User manual MEADE LX200GPS

Instruction Manual 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 7" LX200GPS Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope with Autostar II Hand Controller Meade Instruments Corporation The Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System (2) (1) Ray (2) Ray (1) 8.218" 8.016" (2) (1) 8.0" Focal Plane Secondary Mirror Primary Baffle Tube Field Stops Primary Mirror Correcting Plate Secondary Baffle 8.0" (1) (2) 1/2° (8" model depicted in diagram. Not to scale.) In the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the Meade 8", 10", 12", 14", and 16" LX200GPS models, light enters from the right, passes through a thin lens with 2-sided aspheric correction ("correcting plate"), proceeds to a spherical primary mirror, and then to a convex secondary mirror. The convex secondary mirror multiplies the effective focal length of the primary mirror and results in a focus at the focal plane, with light passing through a central perforation in the primary mirror. The Meade 8", 10" and 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain models include an oversize primary mirror, yielding a fully illuminated fieldof-view significantly wider than is possible with a standard-size primary mirror. Note that light ray (2) in the figure would be lost entirely, except for the oversize primary. It is this phenomenon which results in Meade Schmidt-Cassegrains having off-axis field illuminations about 10% greater, aperture-for-aperture, than other Schmidt-Cassegrains utilizing standard-size primary mirrors. Field stops machined into the inside-diameter surface of the primary mirror baffle tube significantly increase lunar, planetary, and deep-space image contrast. These field stops effectively block off-axis stray light rays. The Meade Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System The Meade 7" (178mm) Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System Field Stops 8.25" Focal Plane Meniscus Lens Secondary Baffle 7" Primary Baffle Tube Primary Mirror (f/2.5) (Diagram not to scale) The Meade 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain design optimizes imaging performance by utilizing a combination of a two-sided spherical meniscus lens (right), a strongly aspheric f/2.5 primary mirror, and a spherical secondary mirror. The convex secondary mirror multiplies the effective focal length of the primary by a factor of six, resulting in an overall a focal length of 2670mm and a focal ratio of f/15 system at the Cassegrain focus. The oversize 8.25" primary mirror results in a fully-illuminated (unvignetted) field of view significantly wider than can be obtained with Maksutov optics incorporating primary mirrors of the same aperture as their meniscus correcting lenses. Computer-optimized primary and secondary mirror baffles, as well as a sequence of field stops internal to the primary mirror baffle, yield lunar, planetary, stellar, and deep-space images of uncommonly high contrast and resolution. CONTENTS WARNING! Never use a Meade LX200GPS Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. ® Caution: Use care to install batteries in the orientation indicated by illustration in the battery slots of the battery holder. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards or mix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are not followed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries void your Meade warranty. If you are anxious to use your telescope for the first time, read the QUICK-START GUIDE on pages 4 and 5. 16" LX200GPS Users: See APPENDIX F, page 62, for features unique to the 16" model. 14" LX200GPS Users: See APPENDIX G, page 66, for features unique to the 14" model. ® The name "Meade" and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. "LX200GPS" and "Autostar II" are trademarks of Meade Instruments Corporation. "Easy Align" U.S. patent 6,392,799 and other patents pending. Intelligent Network Architecture to Facilitate Parallel Task Management U.S. patent 6,304,376 © 2003 Meade Instruments Corporation. Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4 Telescope Features ...................................................... 6 Autostar II Features ........................................................ 9 Getting Started ..............................................................12 Parts Listing ..............................................................12 How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope ..............12 How to Assemble Your Telescope ............................13 Choosing an Eyepiece ..............................................14 Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder ....................15 Observing ......................................................................16 Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually ........16 Terrestrial Observing ................................................16 Observing Using Autostar II's Arrow Keys ................16 Focusing the Eyepiece with the Microfocuser ..........17 Slew Speeds ............................................................17 Observe the Moon, Astronomical Observing ..........18 To Track an Object Automatically..............................18 Moving Through Autostar II's Menus ..................18 Automatic Alignment ............................................18 Observe a Star Using Automatic Tracking ..........20 Go To Saturn ............................................................20 Using the Guided Tour ..............................................20 Basic Autostar II Operation ............................................22 Autostar II Navigation Exercise ................................22 Navigating Autostar II................................................23 Autostar II Menus ........................................................24 Menu Tree ................................................................24 Objects Menu ............................................................25 Event Menu ..............................................................26 Glossary Menu, Utilities Menu ..................................27 Setup Menu ..............................................................28 Hot Button Menus ....................................................31 Advanced Autostar II Features ......................................32 Adding Observing Sites ............................................32 Creating User Objects ..............................................33 Observing Satellites, Landmarks ..............................34 Identify ......................................................................35 Browse ......................................................................36 Alternate Alt/Az Alignment Methods ..........................37 Initialize Autostar II (for Alternate Alignments) ..........37 Easy (Two-Star) Alignment ......................................37 Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment ........................................37 To Set the Home Position Manually ....................38 One-Star Alt/Az Alignment ........................................38 Periodic Error Correction ..........................................39 Photography ..................................................................40 Optional Accessories ......................................................41 Maintenance ..................................................................44 Specifications ................................................................47 Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment ......................50 Appendix B: Latitude Chart ............................................55 Appendix C: How to Create Your Own Guided Tour ......56 Appendix D: Training the Drive ......................................60 Appendix E: The Moon Menu ........................................61 Appendix F: 16" LX200GPS Features............................62 Appendix G: 14" LX200GPS Features ..........................66 Appendix H: De-rotater and Microfocuser Assembly ....67 Appendix I: Smart Mount................................................68 Basic Astronomy ............................................................70 QUICK-START GUIDE It is recommended that you attach the supplied tripod to the LX200GPS for observing. Perform the telescope and Autostar II setup indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing. The setup is the same for the standard field tripod and the giant field tripod. Remove the spreader bar (see above figure) from the shipping carton. Slide the spreader bar onto the threaded rod. Slide the rod through the tripod base. Position the spreader bar so that its three arms line up with the three tripod legs. Threaded Rod Tripod Base "C" Clip in slot 1. Remove the field tripod from the shipping carton. Stand the tripod vertically with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. 4. Place the "C" clip into the slot in the threaded rod above the tripod head--this clip holds the threaded rod in place. Tension Knob 5. 2. Thread in two lock-knobs on each leg (six total) near the foot of each tripod leg. Use the lockknobs to vary the height of the inner, extendible tripod leg sections. Tighten the locks to a firm feel only; do not overtighten. Take the LX200GPS from its packaging and place the entire telescope onto the top of the tripod head, inserting the threaded rod into the central hole in the bottom of the drive base of the telescope. Tighten the tension knob (see above figure) to a firm feel only; firm tightening of the tension knob is sufficient to result in rigid positioning of the tripod legs. Slide rod through Tripod base Battery Compartment Line up with leg Spreader Bar 6. 3. Remove the threaded rod from the tripod head. A small piece of plastic holds the threaded rod in place. Remove the small plastic bag that is stapled to the threaded rod. This bag contains the "C" clip retainer and an extra clip. Remove the covers of the battery compartments located on the fork arms (one on each fork arm) and carefully lift the battery holders from their compartments, being mindful of the connector wires. Insert four (user-supplied) C-cell batteries into each battery holder, oriented as shown on the diagram on the battery holder. Return the battery holders to their respective compartments. Replace the covers when you are done. 4 Display ON/OFF HBX Port 7. Press the computer control panel power switch to OFF, if necessary. Remove the Autostar II handbox and the Autostar II coil cord from the packing materials. Plug one end into the HBX port of the telescope's computer control panel and plug the other end into the coil cord port on the Autostar II handbox. 9. Press the Power Switch on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on Autostar II's LCD display. µ Slew Speeds: Speed 9: Fast . . Speed 5: Medium . . Speed 1: Slow Arrow Keys Speed Key Number Keys OR 8. Attach microfocuser: Remove the dust cap from the rear cell port (A) of the telescope (Note: Telescope not shown for clarity). Thread the microfocuser adapter (B) into the rear cell port thread. Slide the microfocuser (C) over the microfocuser adapter and tighten the three hex screws on the microfocuser (K) using the provided hex keys. Important Note: The Microfocuser is shipped with the microfocuser adapter (B) threaded to the SC accessory adapter (L). Unthread the adapters from each other before attaching the microfocuser. Set aside the SC accessory adapter. For more information about the SC accessory adapter, see SC OPTIONAL ACCESSORY USERS, page 14. 10. Press the key prompted by Autostar II to accept the Sun warning. Autostar II now displays "Automatic Alignment." You can then use the Arrow keys to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. To change the telescope's slew speed, press the Speed key and then the Number keys. "9" is the fastest speed and "1" is the slowest speed. See page 17 for more details. ¸ R.A. Lock Dec. Lock 1.25" Diagonal Prism Users: If using the 1.25" diagonal prism (G), slide the 1.25" adapter (D) into the microfocuser. Line up the thumbscrew into the groove in the microfocuser (I, also see Fig. 7a and 7b, page 14). Slide the 1.25" diagonal prism into the adapter (D). Tighten the adapter thumbscrew (H) to a firm feel only. Tighten the microfocuser thumbscrews (I) to a firm feel only. 2.0" Diagonal Mirror Users: If using the 2.0" diagonal mirror, slide the mirror directly into the microfocuser (C). Tighten the microfocuser thumbscrews (I) to a firm feel only. 11. Tighten, to a firm feel only, the R.A. and Dec. locks. Remove the dust cover from the end of the telescope tube. Place the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece (F) into the diagonal prism (G) and tighten the attachment thumbscrew (E) to a firm feel only. Sight along the side of the telescope's main tube to locate an object. Rotate the mirror lock knob (9, Fig. 1) towards the "Unlock" position, until it feels loose--the telescope is shipped with the mirror locked. Use the telescope's coarse focus knob (6, Fig. 1) to bring the object into focus. Practice using the Autostar II Arrow keys to center an object in the telescope's field of view. 5 TELESCOPE FEATURES 2@ 2# (not shown) 2! 2% 2) (not shown, on left fork arm) 1( 1* 2$ B c d e f g h i j 1) 1! 1@ 1# Fig. 1: The LX200GPS Telescope; Computer Control Panel (inset); Autostar II Handbox (inset). 1& 1^ 1% 1$ Autostar II Hand Controller. See page 9. 6 Caution: Using products other than standard Meade accessories may cause damage to the telescope's internal electronics and may void the Meade warranty. LX200GPS: YOUR PERSONAL WINDOW TO THE UNIVERSE The Meade LX200GPS models are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes. With pushbutton controls, precision GPS alignment, zero image-shift microfocusing, true-level and North electronic sensors, automatic tracking of celestial objects, periodic error correction for both axes, and a library of 145,000+ objects in the Autostar II database, the LX200GPS models offer unmatched state-of-the-art performance. Observe the feather structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of 800 million miles. Focus beyond the Solar System on ancient star clusters, remote galaxies, and stars recently discovered to have planets orbiting about them. Meade LX200GPS telescopes are capable of growing with your interest and can meet the requirements of the most demanding advanced observer. B Want to learn more about the eyepieces available for your LX200GPS telescope? See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, pages 41, 42, and 43. B C D E F G Eyepiece: Place the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece into the 90° diagonal prism (3, Fig. 1) and tighten in place with the eyepiece thumbscrew (2, Fig. 1). The eyepiece magnifies the image collected in the optical tube. Eyepiece Thumbscrew: Tightens the eyepiece (1, Fig. 1) in place. Tighten to a firm feel only. 1.25" Diagonal Prism (or 2" Mirror): Provides a more comfortable right angle viewing position. A 2" diagonal mirror with a 1.25" adapter is standard with the 12" model. See page 14 for information about attaching the prism or mirror to the microfocuser. Diagonal Prism Thumbscrew: Tightens the diagonal prism in place. Tighten to a firm feel only. Rear Cell Port: The microfocuser assembly threads onto this port. Coarse Manual Focus Knob: Moves the telescope's primary mirror in a finelycontrolled motion to achieve coarse image focus. The LX200GPS telescopes can be focused on objects from a distance of about 25 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob counterclockwise to focus on distant objects, and clockwise to focus on nearby objects. Fork Arms: This heavy-duty mount holds the optical tube securely in place. Battery Compartments: Insert four user-supplied C-cell batteries into each compartment (one compartment on each fork arm; eight batteries total). Primary Mirror Lock: Rotate this knob towards the "Lock" position and adjust the tension to a firm feel; this action serves to lock in the coarse focus and also to prevent mirror flop. Use in conjunction with the Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser (see 2$). Right Ascension (R.A.) Slow-Motion Control: Make fine adjustments in the Right Ascension, i.e., the horizontal axis, by turning this control with the R.A. Lock (see ¹ below) in the unlocked position. Set the R.A. Lock to a "partially locked" position to create a comfortable drag for the R.A. Slow Motion Control. Caution: Do not operate the R.A. Slow Motion Control with the R.A. Lock in the fully locked position, as such operation may result in damage to the internal gear system and also cause you to lose alignment. F Want to learn how to attach the microfocuser assembly to the rear cell port of your LX200GPS telescope? See HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE, pages 13 and 14. G Want to learn more about focusing your telescope? See pages 17 and 31. H I J 1) I Want to learn how to install the batteries? See page 13. j Want to learn more about the primary mirror lock? See MIRROR MIRROR, page 38. 1! 1! Want to learn more about the Right Ascension and Declination setting circles? See page 50. Right Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle: See APPENDIX A, page 50, for detailed information. Right Ascension (R.A.) Lock: Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Turning the R.A. lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the horizontal axis. Turning the R.A. lock clockwise locks the telescope, prevents the telescope from being rotated manually, and engages the horizontal motor drive for Autostar II operation. Computer Control Panel (see Fig. 1 inset): A. ON/OFF Switch: Turns the computer control panel and Autostar II ON or OFF. The red power indicator LED next to the switch illuminates when power is supplied to the Autostar II handbox, the microfocuser, and to the telescope's motor drives (the LED can be turned off in the Panel Light menu; see page 27). 1@ 1# 7 Definitions Throughout this manual, you will notice the terms "Alt/Az," "Right Ascension," and "Declination." Alt/Az or more properly, altazimuth, is frequently used to refer to altitude or Declination (the up-and-down vertical movement of the telescope) and azimuth or Right Ascension (the side-to-side horizontal movement of the telescope). Right Ascension is abbreviated as "R.A." and Declination as "Dec." Important Note: After the telescope is aligned (see page 18), the Dec. slow motion control 1^ may be used and the telescope will remain in alignment. However, if the R.A. slow motion control 1) is used after the telescope has been aligned, alignment will be lost and the telescope will need to be realigned. 1$ 1% 1^ 1& B. 12vDC Power Connector: Provides a connection so that the telescope assembly may be powered from a standard 115v AC home outlet using the optional #547 Power Adapter with Cable or the optional 12v DC #607 Cigarette Lighter Adapter. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 43. C. Focus Port: Plug the microfocuser into this port. Control the microfocuser through the Autostar II menus. See HOT BUTTON MENUS, page 31, and 2$ below. D. Reticle Port: Plug the optional reticle eyepiece into this port. Control the reticle through the Autostar II menus. See HOT BUTTON MENUS page 31. Also see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 42. Note: See the instruction sheets that are included with the focuser, the reticle, and the autoguider for more details. E. 12vDC Output: Use the 12vDC output to power telescope accessories and the Maksutov fan on the 7" LX200GPS model.. F. Handbox (HBX) Port: Plug the Autostar II coil cord into this port. G. RS232 Ports (2): Provides connection with a PC and for current and future Meade accessories. Your PC can control your LX200GPS telescope using serial commands. Go to the Meade website (www.meade.com) to download the latest serial commands and device pinouts. H. Autoguider Port: Plug the optional autoguider into this port. See the instruction sheet that came with your autoguider for more information. Tiltable Autostar II Holder: Attach to fork handles (see 1% below). Holds your handbox in a convenient location. Fork Handles: Use to lift optical tube assembly or to rotate the telescope when attached to the tripod. Declination (Dec.) Slow-Motion Control: Make fine adjustments in Declination (altitude) by turning this control with the Dec. Lock (see 1& below) in the locked position. In order for this control to operate properly, power must be off. Dec. Lock: Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the Dec. lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the vertical axis. Turning the Dec. lock clockwise (to a firm feel only) prevents the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the vertical motor drive for Autostar II operation. Dust Cover: Gently pry the dust cover from the front lens of the telescope. Note: The dust cover should be replaced after each observing session and the power turned off to the telescope. Verify that any dew that might have collected during the observing session has evaporated prior to replacing the dust cover. Caution: When loosening the Dec. lock, be sure to support the optical tube (19, Fig. 1). The weight of the tube could cause the tube to swing through the fork arms suddenly. 1* 1( 2) 2! 2@ 2# 2$ Optical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination through the eyepiece. Declination (Dec.) Setting Circle (on left fork arm): See APPENDIX A, page 50, for detailed information. Viewfinder Collimation Screws: Use these six screws to adjust the alignment of the viewfinder. 8 x 50mm Viewfinder: A low-power, wide-field sighting scope with crosshairs that enables easy centering of objects in the telescope eyepiece. GPS Receiver (see page 21 for photo): Receives information transmitted from Global Positioning System satellites. See pages 18, 19, and 21 for more information. 4-Speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser: Allows precise image focus during visual, CCD, and astrophotographic applications. Maintains precise image centering on even the smallest CCD chips. Operates at four speeds: Fine to fast using the Arrow keys of the Autostar II hand controller. Plug microfocuser into the Focus port (13C, Fig. 1). Tube Adapters: The optical and mechanical axes of the LX200GPS telescope have been carefully aligned at the factory to ensure accurate object pointing. Do not loosen or remove the optical tube assembly from the tube adapters. The resulting misalignment of the axes will result in inaccurate slewing of the telescope in the GO TO mode. 2! Want to learn more about attaching and aligning the viewfinder? See page 15. 2$ Want to learn more about the Zero Image Shift Microfocuser? See pages 13, 14, and 31. 2% 8 AUTOSTAR II FEATURES ¸ µ Fig. 2: The Autostar II Handbox. Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of the LX200GPS telescope models is through the operation of the standard Autostar II system. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar II's buttons. Want to learn more about downloading the latest updates of Autostar II software from the Meade website? See page 31. Because the Autostar II system uses flash (rewritable) memory, your system will be able to grow when new features and enhancements become available. Download the latest satellite data, star and object catalogs, tours, serial commands list, and software revisions, directly from the Meade website (www.meade.com). (Requires the optional LX200 Interface Cable. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 43.) Some of the major features of the Autostar II system are: s Automatically move the telescope to any of the more than 145,000 objects stored in the object library, including: Library # of Objects New General Catalog (NGC): 7,840 Index Catalog (IC): 5,386 Messier Catalog (M): 110 Caldwell Catalog: 109 Named Objects: 227 Herschel Catalog: 400 Abell Catalog of Galaxy Clusters: 2,712 Arp Catalog of Irregular Galaxies: 645 Uppsala Galaxy Catalog: 12,940 Morphological Catalog of Galaxies: 12,939 General Catalog of Variable Stars: 28,484 SAO: 17,191 Hipparcos Star Catalog: 17,325 s s s s s Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year. Control your LX200GPS with your PC using an RS232 interface. Align your telescope automatically using GPS (Global Positioning System). Access a glossary of astronomical terms. Mount the telescope in the "Alt/Az" mode (altitude--azimuth, or vertical--horizontal) for fully automatic tracking of celestial objects. 9 The Autostar II system provides control of virtually every telescope function. The Autostar II handbox has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with red LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential menu structure make Autostar II extremely user friendly. B c d 2-Line LCD Display: This screen displays Autostar II's menus and information about the telescope. · Top line: Lists the primary menu. · Bottom line: Displays other menus that may be chosen, menu options, telescope status, or information about a function that is being performed. ENTER Key: Press to go to the next menu level or to choose an option in a menu. The ENTER key is similar to the RETURN or ENTER key on a computer. See MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR II'S MENUS, page 18 and AUTOSTAR II MENUS, page 24. MODE Key: Press to return to the previous menu or data level. The top menu level is "Select Item." The MODE key is similar to the ESCAPE key on a computer. Note: Pressing MODE repeatedly while in the "Select Item" level moves Autostar II to the topmost screen: "Select Item: Object." Note: If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, information about the telescope's status displays. When the status displays, press the Scroll keys (7, Fig. 2) to display the following information: · Right Ascension and Declination (astronomical) coordinates · Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal) coordinates · Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST) · Timer and Alarm Status · Date · Site coordinates · Battery status Press MODE again to return to the previous menu. GO TO Key: Press to slew (move) the telescope to the coordinates of the currently selected object. While the telescope is slewing, the operation may be aborted at any time by pressing any key except GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumes the slew to the object. Also, press during the alignment or GO TO procedures to activate a "spiral search." Arrow Keys: The Arrow keys have several functions. Press an Arrow key to slew the telescope in a specific direction (up, down, left, and right), at any one of nine different speeds. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 17. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move the telescope vertically up and down. The Left Arrow key rotates the telescope horizontally counterclockwise, while the Right Arrow key rotates it clockwise (unless reversed for Southern Hemisphere use). Also, use the Arrow keys to scroll through numbers 0 through 9 and the alphabet. The Down Arrow key begins with the letter "A;" the Up Arrow key begins with digit "9." Additionally, use the Arrow keys to to move the cursor across the display: Use the Right or Left Arrow key (5, Fig. 2) to move the cursor from one number to the next in the display. e Want to learn more about using the GO TO function? See page 20. Want to learn how to perform a spiral search? See page 20. e f g SPEED 1 Want to learn more about changing slew speeds? See page 17. Number Keys: Press to input digits 0 to 9. Each Number key also has a specific function, which is printed on each key (these are commonly known as "hot buttons"--see page 31): 1 SPEED: Changes the slew speeds. To operate, press Speed and then a Number key (1 is the slowest speed, 9 is highest speed). 2 CALD (Caldwell): Press to display the Caldwell catalog on the Autostar II handbox. 3 M (Messier): Press to display the Messier catalog library. 4 FOCUS: Press to display the Focus Control menu. FOCUS 4 Want to learn more about the Focus menu? See page 31. 10 RET Want to learn more about the Reticle menu? See page 31. 7 5 6 7 8 9 0 SS: Press to display the Solar System library. STAR: Press to display the Star library. RET (Reticle): Press to display the Reticle Control menu. IC: Press to display the Index Catalog library. NGC (New General Catalog): Press to display the NGC catalog library. LIGHT: Press to turn on and off the red utility light on the top of the handbox. h Scroll Keys: Press to access options within a selected menu. The menu is displayed 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. Tip: When an astronomical term appears in [brackets], 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. 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 onscreen 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 second line. When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the original screen and continue with the chosen procedure. j 1) 1! 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. Coil Cord: Plug one end of the Autostar II coil cord into the HBX port (13F, Fig. 1) of the computer control panel of the telescope and the other end into the Autostar II coil cord port. See j above. 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. LX200GPS 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 telescopes, 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 LX200GPS telescope. See page 40 for more information about photography with the LX200GPS. 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. 11 GETTING STARTED Parts Listing Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: s s s s s s s s s LX200GPS Telescope with fork mount system Autostar II handbox and interface coil cord; handbox holder Microfocuser assembly 8 x 50mm viewfinder assembly Eyepiece holder and 1.25" diagonal prism (7", 8", and 10" models) 1.25" Adapter and 2" diagonal mirror (12" model only) Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece, packed in a plastic storage container Variable height tripod and mounting base (12" model only: Giant variable tripod) Set of hex keys How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope Assembly The telescope's fork mount base (also called a drive base) attaches directly to the field tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an "altazimuth" ("altitude-azimuth," or "vertical-horizontal") format. The field tripod also can be used in conjunction with the optional equatorial wedge (see EQUATORIAL WEDGE, page 51) for long exposure astrophotography. The equatorial wedge permits alignment of the telescope's polar axis with the Celestial Pole (or North Star). 1. Remove the field tripod from the shipping carton. Stand the tripod vertically with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. Thread in the 6 lock-knobs (2 on each tripod leg) near the foot of each tripod leg (5, Fig. 3). These lock-knobs are used to fix the height of the inner, extendible tripod leg sections. Note: Tightening to a firm-feel is sufficient; over-tightening may result in stripping of the knob threads or damage to the tripod legs, and results in no additional strength. 3. The spreader bar has been removed for shipment. To install, first remove the threaded rod (2, Fig. 3) from the tripod head (1, Fig. 3); a small piece of plastic holds the threaded rod in place. Remove the small plastic bag that is stapled to the threaded rod. This bag contains the "C" clip retainer and an extra clip. Slide the spreader bar (4, Fig. 3) onto the threaded rod (note the correct orientation as shown in Fig. 4) and position the threaded rod back through the tripod head. Place the clip retainer ( a "C" clip) into the slot in the threaded rod above the tripod head. This clip holds the threaded rod in place. Position the spreader bar so that the 3 arms of the spreader bar line up with the 3 tripod legs. Place the entire telescope onto the top of the tripod head, and insert the threaded rod into the central hole in the bottom of the drive base of the telescope. Tighten the tension knob (Fig. 4); firm tightening of the tension knob is sufficient to result in rigid positioning of the tripod legs. To vary the tripod height, loosen the 6 leg lock-knobs, slide the 3 inner tripod leg sections out to the desired height, and firmly re-tighten (but do not overtighten) the 6 lock-knobs. Fig. 3: Tripod components: (1) Tripod Head; (2) Threaded Rod; (3) Tension Knob; (4) Spreader Bar; (5) Lock Knobs; (6) Strut Hub 2. 4. 5. Fig. 4: Attaching the telescope to the tripod. Note the orientation of the spreader bar. 6. 7. To collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope and equatorial wedge, if applicable) for storage, follow these steps: 1. 2. Rotate the spreader bar 60° from its assembled position, so that one spreader bar arm is located between each adjacent pair of tripod legs. At the base of the tripod is a 3-vane extension strut system, with a circular hub at its center (6, Fig. 3). Grasp the tripod head (1, Fig. 3) with one hand and, with the other hand, pull directly "up" on the central hub of the extension strut system. This operation will cause the tripod legs to move inward to a collapsed position. 12 Caution: Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards or mix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are not followed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries void your Meade warranty. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used for a long period of time. Notes Concerning the Tripod: If the tripod does not seem to extend or collapse easily, do not force the tripod legs in or out. By following the instructions above, the tripod will function properly, but if you are unclear on the proper procedure, forcing the tripod into an incorrect position may damage the extension strut system. Do not overtighten the 6 lock-knobs used to fix the inner tripod leg sections at various heights. Tighten to a firm feel only. Be sure the spreader bar (4, Fig. 3) is not upside-down on the threaded rod. How to Assemble Your Telescope Assembly of the LX200GPS telescope requires eight C-cell (user-supplied) batteries or the optional #547 Power Adapter with Cable connected to a standard 115v home outlet or to an optional #607 Cigarette Lighter Adapter (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 43). Plug an adapter into the 12vDC In port of the computer control panel (13B, Fig. 1). To install batteries: 1. Position the optical tube: Turn the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1) counterclockwise to unlock the the optical tube (19, Fig. 1) and move it through the fork arms. Move the optical tube to the position depicted in Fig. 1 and turn the Dec. lock clockwise to a firm feel to relock the position of the optical tube. 2. Install batteries: Remove the battery compartment covers (8, Fig. 1) and carefully remove the battery holders, being mindful of the connector wires. Insert four user-supplied C-cell batteries into each battery holder, oriented as shown on the diagram on the battery slots inside the battery holder. Return the battery holders to their respective compartments and replace the covers. (See Fig. 5.) Plug in the Autostar II handbox: Be certain that the power switch on the computer control panel (13A, Fig. 1) is in the OFF position. Plug the coil cord of the Autostar II handbox into the HBX port (13F, Fig. 1). Note: The Autostar II handbox and the microfocuser do not require batteries; the telescope supplies their power. Note: 14" LX200GPS model users, see page 66 for information on battery installation. 3. Fig. 5: Battery installation. OR Note: The microfocuser is shipped with the microfocuser adapter (B) threaded to the SC accessory adapter (L). Unthread the adapters from each other before attaching the microfocuser. Fig. 6: Microfocuser and eyepiece assembly. (A) Rear cell of telescope (shown separate from the telescope assembly for the sake of clarity, see 5, Fig. 1); (B) Microfocuser adapter; (C) Microfocuser; (D) 1.25" accessory adapter. SC accessory adapter (L) may be used in this position instead if Schmidt-Cassegrain accessories are being used. Do not use either adapter if using a 2" diagonal diagonal mirror; (E) Eyepiece holder thumbscrew; (F) Eyepiece; (G) 1.25 "Diagonal Prism. 2" diagonal mirror may also be used in this position (12" models); (H) Adapter Thumbscrew; (I) Microfocuser Thumbscrews; (J) Microfocuser bearings; (K) Hex screws; (L) Microfocuser SC Accessory Adapter (see margin note). Tip: Although you can set up the telescope to face any direction to perform Automatic Alignment, you will achieve optimal performance when the computer control panel faces South. 4. Attach microfocuser: Remove the dust cap from the rear cell port (5, Fig. 1) of the telescope. Thread the microfocuser adapter (B, Fig. 6) onto the rear cell port thread. Slide the microfocuser (C, Fig. 6) over the microfocuser adapter and tighten the three hex screws (K, Fig. 6) using the provided hex key. 13 5. Attach Diagonal (or accessories) 1.25" Diagonal Prism Users: If using the 1.25" diagonal prism (G, Fig. 6), slide the 1.25" adapter (D, Fig. 6) into the microfocuser. Line up the thumbscrew into the groove in the microfocuser (Fig. 7a and 7b). Tighten the microfocuser thumbscrews (I, Fig. 6) to a firm feel only. Slide the 1.25" diagonal prism into the adapter (D, Fig. 6). Tighten the accessory adapter thumbscrew (H, Fig. 6) to a firm feel only. SC Optional Accessory Users: If using any of the optional accessories (such as the Off-Axis Guider, T-Adapter, etc.; see page 42) with the LX200GPS SC models, slide the supplied SC accessory adapter (L, Fig. 6) into the microfocuser. Line up the groove on the side of the adapter with either of the microfocuser thumbscrews (Fig. 8a and 8b) and tighten that thumbscrew to a firm feel only. Slide the optional accessory into the accessory adapter. Tighten the other microfocuser thumbscrew to a firm feel only. 2.0" Diagonal Mirror Users: If using the 2.0" diagonal mirror, slide the mirror directly into the microfocuser. The adapters (H and L, Fig. 6) are not required. Tighten the thumbscrews (I, Fig. 6) to a firm feel only. Plug in the microfocuser: Plug the microfocuser into the Focus port (13C, Fig. 1). Note: If you wish to mount a camera directly to the microfocuser, you need to attach an optional T-Adapter to the microfocuser. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 42. Important Note: The microfocuser is carefully adjusted at the factory. If it become necessary to adjust the microfocuser, it must be performed by factory trained technicians. If the microfocuser is improperly adjusted, performance will degrade and damage will result. Damage due to improper adjustments not authorized by the factory will not be covered under warranty. Groove Fig. 7a: Microfocuser groove. Fig. 7b: Microfocuser adapter thumbscrew in groove. Groove Line up Fig. 8a: SC adapter groove. Fig. 8b: Line up SC adapter groove with microfocuser thumbscrew. 6. Insert eyepiece: Remove the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece (1, Fig. 1) from its container and place it in the diagonal prism (G, Fig. 6) or diagonal mirror. Tighten the eyepiece holder thumbscrew (2, Fig. 1) to a firm feel only. Rotate the mirror lock knob (9, Fig. 1) towards the "Unlock" position, until it feels loose--the telescope is shipped with the mirror locked. Remove dust cover: Remove the dust cover (18, Fig. 1) from the optical tube assembly (19, Fig. 1) by gently prying it off. Attach the handbox holder: Remove the handbox holder from the plastic bag. If necessary, loosen the lock knob (A, Fig. 10a) and place the clamp (B, Fig. 10a) about one of the fork arm handles (15, Fig. 1). Tighten the lock knob to a firm feel. Slide the Autostar II handbox into the holder (C, Fig. 10a). You may also snap the handbox into the holder: Slide one side of the handbox into the holder and then firmly press the other side of the handbox into the holder until it snaps in place. Adjust the tilt of of the holder by loosening the lock knob and then moving the holder clamp to the desired angle. Retighten the lock knob. 7. 8. Fig. 9: Microfocuser and 1.25 diagonal prism with eyepiece completely assembled. Choosing an Eyepiece A telescope's eyepiece magnifies the image formed by the telescope's main optics. Each eyepiece has a focal length, expressed in millimeters, or "mm." The smaller the focal length, the higher the magnification. For example: An eyepiece with a focal length of 9mm has a higher magnification than an eyepiece with a focal length of 26mm. Your telescope comes supplied with a Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece which gives a wide, comfortable field of view with high image resolution. Fig. 10a: Handbox holder: (A) Lock knob; (B) Clamp; (C) Holder. Fig. 10b: Handbox holder attached to fork arm handle. Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions. To find an object with a telescope, always start with a lower power eyepiece such as the Super Plössl 26mm. When the object is located and centered in the eyepiece, you may wish to switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practical for prevailing seeing conditions. For information about optional eyepieces for the your telescope, see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 41. 14 Mounting Slot The power, or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of the telescope and the focal length of the eyepiece being used (an eyepiece's focal length is printed on the side of the eyepiece). To calculate eyepiece power, divide the telescope's focal length by the eyepiece's focal length. For example: A 26mm eyepiece is supplied with LX200GPS models. The focal length of the 8" f/10 LX200GPS is 2000mm (see SPECIFICATIONS, pages 47 through 49). Eyepiece Power = Telescope focal length ÷ Eyepiece focal length Eyepiece Power = 2000mm ÷ 26mm Eyepiece Power = 77 The eyepiece power, or magnification is therefore 77X (approximately). Note: For a list of magnification ratings of the eyepieces available for the LX200GPS telescopes, see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 41. Track Thumbscrews Fig. 11: Viewfinder Assembly. Collimation Screws GPS Receiver Viewfinder Eyepiece Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder To align the viewfinder, perform steps 1 through 5 during the daytime; perform step 6 at night. 1. Slide the track on the bottom of the viewfinder into the slot in the viewfinder mounting assembly. See Fig. 11. To secure the viewfinder to the mounting assembly, tighten the two thumbscrews (Fig. 11) to a firm feel only. If you have not already done so, insert the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece into the diagonal prism. Unlock the R.A. (12, Fig. 1) and Dec. (17, Fig. 1) locks so that the telescope moves freely on both axes. Point the telescope at some well-defined and stationary land object at least 200 yards distant, such as the top of a telephone pole or street sign. Center the object in the telescope eyepiece. Re-tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks. Look through the viewfinder eyepiece (Fig. 12) and loosen or tighten, as appropriate, one or more of the viewfinder collimation screws (Fig. 12) until the viewfinder crosshairs are precisely centered on the object you previously centered in the telescope eyepiece. Check this alignment on a celestial object, such as the Moon or a bright star, and make any necessary refinements, using the method outlined in steps 3 through 5. Note: Seeing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and site-to-site. Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, back off to a lower power eyepiece for a more well-resolved image (see Fig. 13a and 13b). 2. 3. 4. Fig. 12: Viewfinder collimation screws and eyepiece. Tip: Because the space between the GPS receiver and the viewfinder is a bit tight, it is helpful if you tighten the front, bottom viewfinder collimation thumbscrew first and use the other screws to set the alignment. However, if you determine you need to adjust the front thumbscrew, choose an alignment object that allows you to slightly elevate or rotate the telescope to a convenient position for adjustment of this thumbscrew. 5. 6. LX200GPS TIPS Too Much Power? Can you ever have too much power? If the type of power you're referring to is eyepiece magnification, yes, you can! The most common mistake of the beginning observer is to "overpower" a telescope by using high magnifications which the telescope's aperture and atmospheric conditions cannot reasonably support. Keep in mind that a smaller, but bright and well-resolved image is far superior to one that is larger, but dim and poorly resolved (see Figs. 13a and 13b). Powers above 400X should be employed only under the steadiest atmospheric conditions. Fig. 13a & 13b: Jupiter; examples of the right amount of magnification and too much magnification. Autostar II can calculate the best eyepiece for you to use. Try out the "Eyepiece Calc" feature in the Utilities menu. Most observers should have three or four additional eyepieces to achieve the full range of reasonable magnifications possible with the LX200GPS telescopes. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 41. 15 OBSERVING Important Note: Objects appear upsidedown and reversed left-forright when observed in the viewfinder. Objects viewed through the telescope eyepiece when inserted into the diagonal prism and microfocuser assembly appear right-side-up, but reversed left-for-right. This image inversion is of no consequence when observing astronomical objects and, in fact, all astronomical telescopes yield inverted images. During terrestrial observing, where a fully-correctly-oriented image (right-side-up and correct left-for-right) is desirable, an optional #928 45° Erecting Prism is available. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 42. Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually If you wish to observe a distant land object, such as a mountain top or a bird, you can observe by merely pointing the telescope and looking through the eyepiece. 1. Loosen the telescope's R.A. lock (12, Fig. 1) and Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1). 2. Move your telescope to observe distant street signs, mountains, trees, and other structures. Use your viewfinder to help site-in on an object. 3. Center the object in the viewfinder's crosshairs and then in the telescope eyepiece. When the object is centered in your eyepiece, remember to re-tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks. 4. To move telescope in the R.A. and Dec. axes again, remember to loosen the R.A. lock and tighten the Dec. lock. Then rotate the manual slow motion control knobs (10, Fig. 1) and (16, Fig. 1) . 5. Practice focusing objects using the coarse focus knob (6, Fig. 1). Important Note: The telescope is shipped with the mirror locked. Before using the coarse focus knob , rotate the mirror lock knob (9, Fig. 1) towards the "unlock" position, until it feels loose. For more precise focusing, see FOCUSING THE EYEPIECE, page 17. 6. Once you get a feel for how your telescope moves and focuses, try to view something more challenging, like a bird or a distant moving train. You can also observe stars and objects in the night sky using this method, but note that objects begin to slowly drift across the eyepiece field. This motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth. As you become familiar with the Autostar II handbox operation, you can counteract the drift using the automatic tracking feature in the Autostar II Setup menu (see TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTOMATICALLY, page 18), or by using Autostar II's GO TO capabilities (see GO TO SATURN, page 20). Note: Viewing conditions vary widely from night-to-night and siteto-site. Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. Low-power eyepieces, such as the Super Plössl 26mm supplied with your telescope, are better suited to resolving images in poor viewing conditions. NEVER point the telescope directly at or near the Sun at any time! Observing the Sun, even for the smallest fraction of a second, will result in instant and irreversible eye damage, as well as physical damage to the telescope itself. Terrestrial Observing The LX200GPS models are excellent high-resolution terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing terrestrial objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat waves often cause degradation of image quality. Lower power eyepieces, like the Super Plössl 26mm, magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. Therefore, lower power eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image. If the image is fuzzy or ill-defined, reduce to a lower power eyepiece, where the heat waves do not have such an effect on image quality. Observing in early morning hours, before the ground has built up internal heat, produces better viewing conditions than during late afternoon hours. Observing Using Autostar II's Arrow Keys You may observe land and astronomical objects using Autostar II's Arrow keys to move the telescope. 1. 2. 3. Tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks (12 and 17, Fig. 1). Verify that Autostar II is properly connected to your telescope. See HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE, page 13. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position. The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by a short beep. Then Autostar II takes a few moments to start up the system. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by Autostar II to signify that the message has been read and understood. "Automatic Alignment" displays. Press any Autostar II key to abort automatic alignment. The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then a Number key (6, Fig. 2) to change the telescope's slew speed. ("1" is the slowest speed, "9" is highest speed.) Use the viewfinder (22, Fig. 1) to locate an object and practice using the Autostar II's Arrow keys to center the object in the telescope's field of view. 4. Warning: Do not look through the telescope's eyepiece or viewfinder while it is rapidly moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. Want to learn more about Slew Speeds? See Slew Speeds, this page. 5. 6. 7. 8. 16 9. See MIRROR MIRROR, page 38, for more information about the microfocuser and the primary mirror lock. Bring the object into focus (see below). Focusing the Eyepiece Using the Microfocuser The LX200GPS zero image-shift microfocuser (24, Fig. 1) allows you to obtain the most precise image focus possible during visual, photographic, and CCD applications, maintaining precise and "jiggle-free" image centering on even the smallest CCD chips. To use the microfocuser: 1. Perform this part of the procedure during the daytime, without the eyepiece assembly (eyepiece, diagonal, etc.) attached to the microfocuser. Press the Autostar II Focus button and then the Up and Down Arrow keys. Observe the microfocuser drawtube as it travels in and out. When the drawtube reaches the furthest extension of its travel, listen for a change in the pitch of the motor. Notice that the drawtube's maximum extension is about a half-inch out from the microfocuser. Set the drawtube so that it extends about a quarter-inch (about halfway). 2. When you begin your viewing session, attach the eyepiece assembly. See pages 13 and 14 for details. 3. Make sure that the microfocuser is plugged into the computer control panel focus port (13C, Fig. 1). 4. Point the telescope at a bright star. 5. Rotate the mirror lock knob (9, Fig. 1) towards the "unlock" position, until it feels loose. Use the coarse focus control (6, Fig. 1) to achieve a rough focus of the star. 6. Rotate the mirror lock knob towards the "lock" position and adjust the tension to a firm feel; this action serves to lock in the coarse focus. Important Note: Do not use or bump the coarse focus knob once you have set the coarse focus. If you do so, repeat steps 5 and 6 above to reset the coarse focus. 7. Press the Focus key (Number key "4"). "Focus Control: Speed: Fast" displays. Press the Up or Down Scroll keys to cycle through the four speed options. Press ENTER to select the desired speed. Or press one of the following Number keys after pressing the Focus key to change the speed: Key # Speed Key # Speed 1 or 2 Fine 6 or 7 Medium 3, 4, or 5 Slow 8 or 9 Fastest 8. Use the Arrow keys to bring the star into fine focus. 9. You may need to repeat this procedure when you change eyepieces. Slew Speeds Tip: The slowest speed, 1x, may be changed using the Guiding Rate menu. This menu allows you to change the speed by entering a percentage of the speed (either more or less than 100%). This function may be useful in guiding the telescope during CCD and long-exposure photography. See GUIDING RATE, page 29, for more information. Autostar II has nine slew speeds that move the optical tube at rates that are directly proportional to the sidereal rate and have been calculated to accomplish specific functions. Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then press a Number key to change the slew speed, which is shown for about two seconds on Autostar II's display. The nine available speeds are: Number Key 1 = 1x = Guide Rate, programmable (see Tip at left) Number Key 2 = 2x = 2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008°/sec) Number Key 3 = 8x = 8 x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or 0.033°/sec) Number Key 4 = 16x = 16 x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec or 0.067°/sec) Number Key 5 = 64x = 64 x sidereal (16 arc-min/sec or 0.27°/sec) Number Key 6 = 128x = 30 arc-min/sec or 0.5°/sec Number Key 7 = 1.5° = 90 arc-min/sec or 1.5°/sec Number Key 8 = 3° = 180 arc-min/sec or 3°/sec Number Key 9 = Max = 480 arc-min/sec or 8°/sec) Speeds 1, 2, or 3: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a higher power eyepiece, such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece. Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enable centering of an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard Super Plössl 26mm. Speeds 7 or 8: Best used for rough centering of an object in the viewfinder. Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another. 17 Observe the Moon Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not visible every night) and practice using the Arrow keys, the microfocuser and the slew speeds to view different features. The Moon contains many interesting features, including craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view the Moon is during its crescent or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during these periods and adds a depth to the view. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, making the overly bright surface to appear flat and rather uninteresting. Consider the use of a neutral density Moon filter when observing the Moon. See page 42. Not only does it cut down the Moon's bright glare, but it also enhances contrast, providing a more dramatic image. Definition: Initialization is a procedure that ensures that Autostar II operates correctly. When you first use Autostar II, it doesn't yet know where the observation location site is or the time or date of the observation session. During the automatic alignment procedure, the system calculates these parameters automatically. Autostar II uses this information to precisely calculate the location of celestial objects (such as stars and planets) and to move your telescope correctly for various operations. Astronomical Observing Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electromechanical capabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of optical performance is readily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is limited only by the observer's motivation. To Track an Object Automatically As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it automatically tracks (follows) the stars and other objects in the night sky. If the telescope is not tracking an astronomical object, the object will drift out of the eyepiece field of view. The tracking function automatically keeps an object centered in the telescope's eyepiece. To automatically track objects, you need to learn how the Autostar II keypad operates in order to move through its menus. You'll need to initialize and align your telescope. Moving Through Autostar II's Menus The Autostar II database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation. s s s s s Press ENTER (2, Fig. 2) to go deeper into Autostar II's menu levels. Press MODE (3, Fig. 2) to move back toward the top menu level. Press the Scroll keys (7, Fig. 2) to move up and down through the options available for each level. Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to enter characters and digits. The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope. Use the Number keys to enter digits. Tip: When multiple choices are available within an Autostar II menu option, the current option is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow (>). Automatic Alignment Feature Autostar II offers four methods of altazimuth (alt/az) alignment; this section describes how to initialize and align your telescope using Automatic Alignment. (For a description of the other alt/az alignment methods, see pages 37 and 38. For information about equatorial (polar) alignment, see APPENDIX A, page 50.) To prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment: 1. Tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks (12 and 17, Fig. 1). 2. 3. Verify that Autostar II is properly connected to your telescope. See HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE, page 13. Note: Press any key on the Autostar II handbox to abort the GPS fix. If aborted, Autostar II then displays "Enter Date." You may follow prompts to perform a manual alt/az alignment (see page 37) or press MODE repeatedly until "Select Item" displays to use the Autostar II menu options. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position. The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by a short beep. Then Autostar II takes a few moments to start up the system. 4. Autostar II initializes the Smart Drive if "On" has been previously chosen from both the R.A. and Dec. PEC menus in the "Setup: Telescope" menu (the very first time the system is turned on, the Smart Drive feature will not be enabled). Once "On" is chosen, Autostar remembers the setting until "Off" is chosen again. If "On" has been selected, the R.A. and Dec. motors operate briefly and "Initializing: Smart Drive" displays. 18 5. Important Note: Once the telescope is aligned, only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope. Once the telescope has been aligned, do not loosen the telescope locks (12 and 17, Fig. 1), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by Autostar II to signify that the message has been read and understood. "Automatic Alignment" displays. Press ENTER. The system now performs the following routines (press any Autostar II key to abort Automatic Alignment; see Important Note, at the bottom of page 18) : Caution: As the telescope performs the following operations, it will swing and rotate. Keep a safe distance from the telescope. a. Finds the home position. Moves the telescope to find the "home" position. When the home position is found, the system knows the limiting positions of the telescope and can avoid tangling cables and over-rotating the telescope. b. Detects "level" of the base of the telescope; finds tilt and tip. To detect level, Autostar II must calculate "level" at three compass points. See FINDING TRUE LEVEL in the LX200GPS INFO box on page 21. Autostar II also determines the positioning (i.e., tilt and tip) of the optical tube. c. Finds North. Locates magnetic North, then calculates true North. See FINDING TRUE NORTH, page 21. d. Attempts a "GPS Fix." The LX200's GPS receiver attempts to acquire and sync up with signals from GPS satellites. "Getting GPS Fix" displays. See THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM in the LX200GPS INFO box on page 21. After performing these operations, Autostar II now knows: s The telescope's limiting positions s Where level is for the telescope s The location of true North s The observing site's location s The date and time e. Star Alignment. Autostar II then chooses two stars to align upon. "Searching...." displays. When the telescope slews (moves) to the first star for alignment, it may not appear in the field of view in the eyepiece. If it is not, look through the viewfinder--in most cases, the star will be visible. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope (you can change speed at which the telescope moves: see SLEW SPEEDS, page 17 for more information) 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. Repeat this procedure for the second star. For more information about alignment stars, see WHICH ONE'S THE ALIGNMENT STAR? page 19. 6. Important Notes: It is recommended that you do not attempt a GPS fix indoors. It is also recommended that you CALIBRATE SENSORS the first time your telescope takes a GPS fix. See page 29 for more information. Important Note: The Daylight Saving menu enables or disables the Daylight Savings Time setting: Remember to turn this setting off or on the two days a year when Daylight Saving changes. See TIMING IS EVERYTHING, page 28. LX200GPS TIPS Which One's the Alignment Star? If Autostar has chosen an alignment star with which you are unfamiliar, how can you be sure if the star in your eyepiece is really the alignment star? The rule of thumb is that an alignment star is usually the brightest star in that area of the sky. If you perform a GO TO to an alignment star and you're not sure if you have located the alignment star or it isn't in the eyepiece, look through your viewfinder. When you view an alignment star in the viewfinder, it stands out dramatically from the rest of the stars in that portion of the sky. The viewfinder will help you locate a star more quickly than the eyepiece, because it has a much wider field of view than the eyepiece. Using Autostar, set the slew speed to 6 or higher and use the Arrow keys to center the alignment star in the viewfinder. If your viewfinder has been aligned with the telescope, the alignment star should now be in the eyepiece. Set the slew speed to 4 or less and center the star in the eyepiece. Also see the "Spiral Search" tip, page 20. 19 Tip: The GO TO key also allows you to perform a "spiral search." A spiral search is useful when the telescope slews to an object, but that object is not visible in the eyepiece after the telescope finishes its search. (This sometimes occurs during an alignment procedure.) Press GO TO when the telescope stops slewing. The telescope begins to move in a spiral pattern at a very slow speed around the search area. Look through the eyepiece and when the object does become visible, press MODE to stop the spiral search. Then use the Arrow keys to center the object. When the procedure is performed correctly, "Alignment Successful" displays. If Autostar II does not display this message, perform this procedure again. Note: Alignment stars may change from night to night. All that is required is for the observer to center the selected stars in the eyepiece when prompted. Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature Now that your telescope has been aligned, you are able to track celestial objects. In this example, the Autostar II Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then Autostar II's tracking capability automatically keeps the star centered in your telescope's eyepiece. 1. When Automatic Alignment is completed (as described in the previous section), "Select: Object" displays on Autostar II. 2. Select a bright star from one of the Object menus. You may choose any unobstructed, bright star for the purposes of this example. Use the viewfinder (22, Fig. 1) to help line up on the star. Use Autostar II's Arrow keys to center the star in the eyepiece. The tracking motors will then keep the star you have chosen in the center of the eyepiece. Go To Saturn This exercise demonstrates how to select a celestial object, the planet Saturn, for viewing from Autostar II's Solar System library. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars. In other words, the telescope tracks the chosen objects. Note: Saturn is not visible the entire year; you may need to choose another object from any of Autostar II's many object libraries; however, the procedure, as described below, remains the same. 1 2. 3. After the telescope is aligned, press Number key "5." "Solar System: Mercury" displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until "Solar System: Saturn" displays. Press ENTER. "Calculating" displays. Then "Saturn" and a set of coordinates displays. Note that Saturn's (and other planets') coordinates change throughout the year. Press GO TO. "Saturn: Slewing..." displays and the telescope slews until it finds Saturn. You may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. Autostar II then automatically moves the telescope so that it "tracks" Saturn (or whatever other object you may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains centered in the eyepiece. Important Note: While performing the automatic tracking procedure, only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope. Once the telescope has been aligned, do not loosen the telescope locks (12 and 17, Fig. 1), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost. 4. Tip: To manually enter the R.A. and Dec. coordinates of an object: Press and hold MODE for two seconds or more. The R.A. and Dec. coordinates display. Press GO TO. "Object Position" and a set of coordinates displays. Then enter the R.A. and Dec. coordinates of any celestial object using Number keys. As soon as the coordinates are entered, Autostar II slews the telescope to the coordinates. Note that the telescope must be initialized for this procedure to operate properly. Using the Guided Tour The Guided Tour feature is an easy and fun method of exploring Autostar II's GO TO capabilities. This example demonstrates using "Tonight's Best" Guided Tour. 1. 2. 3. After observing Saturn, keep pressing MODE until "Select Item: Object" displays again. Press the Scroll Down key twice. "Select Item: Guided Tour" displays. Press ENTER. "Guided Tour: Tonight's Best" displays. Press ENTER. Note: If you wish to try out other Guided Tours, press the Scroll Down key to scroll through other tour choices. When the tour you wish to select displays, press ENTER. 4. "Tonight's Best: Searching..." displays. After calculating, "Tonight's Best: Jupiter" displays. Note: Different objects may be displayed on a tour list on any given night. Press ENTER to display information about the object. Press GO TO to move the telescope to the object. 20 5. 6. Press MODE to return to the Tour list. Press the Scroll keys to scroll through the list. Press ENTER when you find the next object you wish to observe. Press and hold down MODE for two seconds to leave the Guided Tour menu. Other Guided Tours are available, such as "How Far is Far" and "A Star's Life." If you have programming skills, you may wish to create a custom Guided Tour. See CREATE YOUR OWN GUIDED TOUR, page 56. LX200GPS INFO The Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System (GPS) is comprised of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth that are constantly transmitting their precise position and time. The system provides highly accurate, worldwide positioning and navigation information for any number of applications. GPS receivers on the Earth acquire signals from three to twelve satellites to determine the precise latitude, longitude, and time of the receiver. (Accuracy of the receiver's position may be within 10 to 15 feet.) As Autostar II uses latitude, longitude, and time information to calculate the positions of celestial objects, GPS is an ideal tool for aligning your LX200GPS telescope. GPS Receiver Detecting True Level Fig. 14: LX200GPS GPS Receiver. To detect level of the base of the telescope, Autostar II must calculate the tip and tilt of the telescope at three compass points and then compensate for it. Finding level involves the geometric calculations of a "plane." In order to define a plane, three positions are necessary. This is not unlike building a table: For a table to stand level and solid, it must have a minimum of three legs. Autostar II makes gravitational measurements to make a precise determination of true level. Finding True North Locating True North is one of the most important ingredients in the alignment of a telescope. True North is the axis--the pole--which the Earth spins about and is a key reference for the motion of the Earth. As you look at the night sky, the stars seem to move; in fact, if you watched long enough or took a long time-exposure photograph, you'd realize that the stars seem to revolve around one point--the pole or True North. When Autostar II knows where True North is and also knows the time, it can calculate the location of all the other objects in the sky. One traditional way to find True North is to locate the North Star, Polaris, which lies very close to True North. Another way to calculate True North is to use gyroscopes or accelerometers. The LX200GPS determines True North by using a magnetic North sensor. The sensor locates magnetic North. Magnetic North is not True North, but a measurement of the magnetic lines of the Earth. Magnetic North may deviate several degrees from True North. But Autostar II, using the observation site location determined by the GPS and magnetic North information, can calculate the position of True North. Some areas are subject to magnetic disturbances, and the magnetic field of the Earth changes slightly from year to year. Autostar II allows you to adjust for discrepancies in the local magnetic field using the "Calibrate Sensors" option in the Telescope menu. See page 29 for more information. 21 BASIC AUTOSTAR II SETUP MENU Automatic alignment permits all telescope operations with only minimal setup. Select Item: Setup UTILITIES MENU Calculate eyepiece magnifications; set timer alerts; create your own landmark survey. Select Item: Utilities GLOSSARY What is an elliptical galaxy? How far away is the Sun? Expand your knowledge of astronomy by displaying terms and definitions, and other information. Select Item: Object OBJECT MENU Want to see Mars? The Orion nebula? The Andromeda galaxy? Select from over 145,000 objects and press GO TO to move the telescope automatically to an object. Select Item: Event EVENT MENU Display the time of past, present, and future astronomical events, such as Moon phases or meteor showers. Select Item: Guided Tour GUIDED TOUR Autostar II escorts you on a tour of tonight's best celestial objects at your viewing location. The Universe of Autostar II utostar Autostar Select Item: Glossary Fig. 15: The Autostar II Universe: The six primary categories listed in the Select Item menu of Autostar II. Object Event Guided Tours Glossary Utilities Setup It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 16). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 2) cycles down through all the available options within a given category, then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (7, Fig. 2) cycles up through the options in the opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to get to an option that is near the bottom of the list. The following example demonstrates this capability. Example: To navigate to the "Select Item: Setup" menu option when the "Select Item: Object" menu is displayed: 1. Press the Scroll Down key five times or the Scroll Up key once. The screen in Fig. 17 displays two lines of information. The top line shows the current menu level. The second line displays an option which may be selected within that menu level. Some options are choices that select the next menu level down. The Scroll keys move up and down within the list of available options, showing one option at a time. When the desired option is displayed on the second line, press the ENTER key to choose that option and move down one menu level. Press the MODE key to leave a level; e.g., the wrong menu option is chosen. Important Note: No matter how many levels into Autostar II are traveled, each press of the MODE key moves up a level, until the top level, "Select Item," is reached. Once in the Select Item level, press MODE to return to the topmost level, "Select Item: Object." Fig. 16: Menus set in a loop. Setup Align Date Time Daylight Saving Telescope Targets etc. Fig. 17: Menu options display on the second line. Use the Scroll keys to move up or down through the list of options. Press ENTER to select the desired option. Autostar II Navigation Exercise To demonstrate how the Autostar II menu structure works, the following exercise calculates Sunset time so an evening observing session can be planned. To Calculate Sunset time: 1. Press the MODE key several times, until "Select Item: Object" is displayed. 2. 3. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Event" option in the "Select Item" menu. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise" is displayed. 22 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level. Autostar II calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar II then displays the results of the calculation. Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar II levels. The first level up is the Event menu. Press MODE again to move up another level. This is the top level, "Select Item." Press MODE again to return to the starting point of "Select Item: Object." Navigating Autostar II Autostar II's menus are organized for quick and easy navigation: s Tip: Press ENTER to go deeper into Autostar II's menu levels. Press MODE to move back toward the top menu level. Press Number key "1" to engage the Speed mode, and then press Number keys 1 through 9 to change speeds. Press Number key "4" to access the Focus menu. Press Number key "7" to access the Reticle menu. Press the Scroll keys to move up and down through the options or lists. Press the Arrow keys to move the cursor across the display. Press the Help (?) key to access on-line help. When multiple choices are available within a menu option, the current option is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow (>). s s s s s s s LX200GPS TIPS Look into the Future The Autostar II Date option in the Setup menu is much more than just an entry of today's date; with it you can look far into the future or learn about past events. Autostar II can calculate the date and times of future events and, except for eclipses, past events as well (based on the current calendar system). E.g., a Sunrise on March 6, 2043 A.D. or the Vernal Equinox in 1776 A.D. To use this feature, enter the desired date in the Setup menu or select an option in the Event menu. Autostar II, using the Event menu, can calculate dates and times for Sunrises, Sunsets, Moonrises, Moonsets, Moonphases, Solar and Lunar Eclipses (for the next 100 years), meteor showers, equinoxes and solstices, and the minimums of Algol. One very practical use of the Event menu is to check the Sunset option to determine when you can begin your astronomical observing session. 23 24 AUTOSTAR II's MENUS Select Item: Object Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Planetary Neb. Etc. Star Named SAO Catalog Etc. Satellite Select Add Delete Edit User Objects Select Add Delete Edit Landmarks Select Add Delete Identify Browse Start Search Edit Parameters Select Item: Event Sunrise Sun Transit Sunset Moonrise Moon Transit Moonset Moon Phases Next Full Moon Next New Moon Next 1st Qtr Next 3rd Qtr Meteor Showers Quadrantids Lyrids Etc. Solar Eclipses Lunar Eclipses Min. of Algol Autumn Equinox Vernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice Select Item: Guided Tour Tour Objects Tonight's Best How Far is Far Etc. Select Item: Glossary A... Accretion Disk Etc. B... C... Etc. Select Item: Utilities Timer Set Start & Stop Alarm Set On & Off Eyepiece Calc. Field of View Magnification Suggest Sun Warning Brightness Adj. Contrast Adj. Panel Light Aux Port Power Beep Temperature Battery Alarm Landmark Survey Sleep Scope Park Scope Select Item: Setup Align Automatic Easy One Star Two Star Align on Home Date Time Daylight Saving Smart Mount Configuration Off On Train Update Load Save As Delete Erase Telescope Mount Model Focal Length Max Slew Rate Mount Upper Limit Mount Lower Limit Park Position Calibrate Home Anti-Backlash Train Drive Calibrate Sensors Tracking Rate Guiding Rate Reverse L/R Reverse Up/Dn Home Sensors GPS Alignment R.A. PEC Dec. PEC High Precision Targets Astronomical Terrestrial Site Select Add Delete Edit Owner Info Clone Download Statistics Reset Moon Overview Landing Sites Apollo 11 Etc. Craters Abbot Etc. Mountains Mons Bradley Etc. Mare, Lakes Lacus Aestatis Etc. Valley, Rills Rima Agatharchid Etc. Figure 18: The Complete Autostar II Menu Tree Structure. Object Menu Almost all observing with Autostar II is performed using the Object menu category. (Note: Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See GO TO SATURN, page 20, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see USING THE GUIDED TOUR, page 20. Autostar II contains many libraries of viewable objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of these objects is selected from a library, Autostar II moves your telescope (if properly aligned) and points it at the selected object. Six of the most popular libraries can be accessed directly using the hot buttons. The Object Menu options include: Solar System: A library of the eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from the Sun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets. Constellation: A library of all 88 Northern and Southern Hemisphere constellations. When this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen, press GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to that star. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest. Deep Sky: A library of objects outside our Solar System such as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and quasars. Star: A catalog of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or nearby. Also included are the Hipparcos, SAO, HD, and HR catalogs. The Star catalog may also be accessed directly by pressing the Number key "6." Want to learn more about Observing Satellites? See page 34. Satellite: A library of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and geosynchronous orbit satellites. Other Catalogs are accessed directly using the Autostar II "hot keys": Caldwell (key "2"), Messier catalog ("3"), Solar System ("5"), IC ("8"), and NGC ("9"). To slew the telescope to catalog objects: Enter the catalog number of the object using the Number keys and then press ENTER. For example: To slew to NGC 6720, press Number Key "9," then using the Number keys, enter the digits "6-7-2-0." Then press ENTER. Autostar II displays the common name and alternate names of the object, if available. Press one of the Scroll keys to display some or all of the following information about that object: Type of object (galaxy, nebula, etc.), Dec. and R.A. coordinates, constellation it is located within, magnitude, size, distance, and star-type classification, if the object is a star. If further information is available, it displays as scrolling text. Press GO TO. The telescope, if aligned (see AUTOMATIC ALIGNMENT, page 18), will slew to that chosen object. Press MODE repeatedly to return to previous menu levels. User Objects: Allows the user to define and store in memory deep-sky objects of specific interest that are not currently in the Autostar II libraries. See CREATING USER OBJECTS, page 33, for more information. Want to learn more about Landmarks? See page 34. Landmarks: Stores the location of terrestrial points of interest in the permanent Autostar II database. This function works with a telescope that remains in one fixed spot or can be setup in the exact same spot each time it is used. s Select: To select a Landmark already in the database (see ADD below), choose the "Select" option and scroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object. Add: To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate and center the Landmark in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. Important Note: To add objects to the Landmark database, the telescope must be located and aligned exactly as when the original objects were added to the database. s 25 Identify: An exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar II Arrow keys to move about in the sky. Then follow this procedure: Important Note: Only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the base or alignment is lost. 1. 2. 3. 4. When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keep pressing MODE until the "Select Item: Object" menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select this menu. Scroll through the Object menu options until the "Object: Identify" screen appears. Press ENTER. Autostar II searches the libraries for the identity of the object being observed. If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar II library object, the nearest library object is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to that object. Want to learn more about using the Browse menu? See page 36. Browse: Allows you to search the library for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, such as: Object Type, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc. Once you have set the parameters of the search, select "Start Search" and press ENTER. Autostar II will display the results of the search. Event Menu Want to learn more about using the Date menu? See the LX200GPS TIPS box page 23. The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event database includes: Sunrise, Sun Transit, and Sunset: Calculate the time of Sun rise, Sun transit, or Sun set on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the "Setup: Date" menu. Moonrise, Moon Transit, and Moonset: Calculate the time of Moon rise, Moon transit, or Moon set on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the "Setup: Date" menu. Moon Phases: Displays the date and time of the next Full, New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd Quarter Moon. Meteor Showers: Provides information on upcoming meteor showers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids, etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they reach maximum. Note: Meteors are fast moving objects that cover large areas of the sky and are usually best observed with the naked eye. Definition: Transit is the time when the Sun, Moon, or other celestial object crosses an observer's meridian, i.e., the time when an object is at its highest point in the sky on any given date. WARNING! Never use your Meade® LX200GPS Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. Solar Eclipse: Lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, annular, or partial) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Remember, never use a telescope to look at the Sun! See WARNING! to the left. Lunar Eclipse: Lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Min. (Minimum) of Algol: Displays the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days during a 10-hour period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. Autostar II calculates minimum magnitude time at mideclipse. Autumn and Vernal Equinox: Calculate the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year. Winter and Summer Solstice: Calculate the time and date of the winter or summer solstice of the current year. 26 Glossary Menu The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and Autostar II functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar II. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the Autostar II Help function or when reading a scrolling message such as a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is on screen and Autostar II goes to the glossary entry for that word. To access directly from within the Glossary menu, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry and then press ENTER to read the description. Utilities Menu The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within Autostar II, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include: Timer: Selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose "Set" or "Start/Stop." s s Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer. When the timer runs out, four beeps sound and the timer is deactivated. Alarm: Selects a time for an alarm signal to sound as a reminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose "Set" or "Start/Stop." s s Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm to sound, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. Start/Stop: Activates the alarm set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the alarm. When the alarm time arrives, Autostar II beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm. Eyepiece Calc: Calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which Autostar II is connected. s s Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the field of view is calculated. Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the magnification is calculated. Suggest: Autostar II calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on the telescope and the object being viewed. Tip: The Contrast Adjustment feature is usually only required in very cold weather. If you adjust the contrast so that you can no longer read the display, turn off the power and turn it on again. When Version appears on the display (the initial display screens are not affected by the Contrast control), press MODE. s Sun Warning: Enables or disables Autostar II's Sun warning display. Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER. Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER. Panel Light: Allows you to turn off LED panel light. Aux Port Power: Allows you turn off and on the 12vDC OUT power port. Beep: Turns the beep alerts on or off. Temperature: Gives a temperature reading of the ambient air. This reading is not always available. Landmark Survey: Automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a short pause at each location. Press ENTER to start the survey. While a slew is in progress, press any key to skip that object and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe a landmark for a longer period, press MODE when paused on the object to stop the survey. Press ENTER to restart the survey at the first object on the list. Want to learn more about Landmarks? See page 34. 27 Sleep Scope: A power saving option that shuts down Autostar II and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. With "Sleep Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate the Sleep function. Autostar II goes dark, but the internal clock keeps running. Press any key, except ENTER, to re-activate Autostar II and the telescope. Park Scope: Designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Align the telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope. The next time it is powered up, pressing ENTER causes the telescope to move to its predetermined Park position. Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off power. Important Note: When the "Park Scope" option is chosen and the display prompts you to turn off the telescope's power, Autostar II is unable to be returned to operation without turning the power off and then back on. Setup Menu Want to learn more about using the new Smart Mount Feature? See Appendix I: Smart Mount pages 68 and 69. The Setup menu's primary function is used for manual telescope alignment (see MANUAL ALT/AZ ALIGNMENTS, pages 37 and 38). However, there are numerous other features available within the Setup menu, including: Align on Home: For permanently mounted telescopes only. If Calibrate Home has been performed, power up your telescope and select this menu to return the previously calibrated home position. In other words, the telescope is fuly aligned according to the setting that were stored in Autostar II's memory during the Calibrate Home procedure. See CALIBRATE HOME, page 29, for more information. Date: Changes the date used by Autostar II. This function is useful to check events in the past or future. For example: Set the Date menu for a day three months in the future. Then check the "Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunset time on that date. See EVENT MENU, page 26. Time: Changes the time entered into Autostar II. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar II to properly calculate locations and events. Time may be set to "AM," "PM," or 24-hour mode (military time). To select the 24-hour mode, press ENTER when the the "blank" option displays (i.e., neither "AM" nor "PM" is displayed). Daylight Saving: Enables or disables the Daylight Savings time setting. Note: See TIMING IS EVERYTHING below. Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by different names in various areas of the world. Check local time to verify. Telescope: Accesses the several options, including: s Mount: Set this option to "Alt/Az" if using alt/az alignment and to "Polar" if using polar alignment. "Alt/Az" is the default value. s s s s Want to learn more about using the Date menu? See the LX200GPS TIPS box, page 23. Model: Allows you to select the telescope model connected to Autostar II. Focal Length: Displays the focal length of the selected telescope. Max Slew Rate: Sets the upper limit for the slew rate. 8 degrees per second is the fastest setting. Mount Upper Limit: Allows you enter a number from 0 to 90 that sets an upper limit as to how far the optical tube can swing upward during a programmed slew. LX200GPS TIPS Timing is Everything Your telescope receives the precise time when it synchs with the GPS. Precise time is important in aligning your telescope so that it can accurately locate celestial objects. Autostar II receives time data in the Universal Time format. However, if you wish to display the correct time in your local time zone, use the Daylight Saving menu (see above) to turn the Daylight Saving option on or off. Keep in mind that the telescope is receiving the correct time whether or not you set this option to display your local time. 28 (Note that it does not prevent you from performing a manual slew past this limit.) This is useful when you have a camera or other peripheral attached to the telescope--you can prevent it from striking the telescope base. 90 (straight up) is the maximum value that can be entered. s Mount Lower Limit: Allows you enter a number from 0 to 90 that sets a lower limit as to how far the optical tube can swing downward during a programmed slew. (Note that it does not prevent you from performing a manual slew past this limit.) This is useful when you have a large optical tube (12" model) or have a dewshield attached to the telescope--you can prevent it from striking the telescope base. -90 (straight down) is the maximum value that can be entered. Park Position: For permanently mounted telescopes only. After aligning your telescope, select this menu and power down the telescope. The alignment settings--level, North, time, alignment stars--are stored in Autostar II's memory and are remembered after you power off the telescope. When you power on the telescope, "Automatic Alignment" displays after the start up routine. Press MODE (do not press ENTER). The telescope remembers its alignment and you can continue viewing or performing other operations without aligning the telescope again. Park Position provides two options. Use Current Position uses the last position set by the user. Use Default Position levels telescope and points it North. s s Calibrate Home: For permanently mounted telescopes only. After aligning your telescope, select this menu and the alignment settings--level, North, time, alignment stars--are stored in Autostar II's memory and are remembered after you power off the telescope. You can enable Autostar II to retrieve and automatically align your telescope using these settings the next time you power up by choosing the Align on Home menu. See ALIGN ON HOME, page 28, for more information. Note: This method is not as precise as PARK POSITION (see above). Anti-Backlash: This option allows you to change the backlash along either the R.A. and the Dec. axes by entering a number from 0% to 199%. This sets the backlash in the way the Arrow keys move the telescope along an axis. If you enter a value near 199%, telescope responds more quickly as you hold down an Arrow key. If you enter a value near 0%, it takes longer for the tube to respond as you hold down an Arrow key. Experiment with this option: Try changing the values until the motion of the telscope (while holding down an Arrow key) feels comfortable to you. Train Drive: All telescopes have a certain amount of "backlash" (looseness in the interplay of gears). This menu allows you to compensate for the backlash in the the Altitude and Azimuth motors--which helps locate objects with more precision. Calibrate Sensors: This menu allows you to improve your telescope's pointing accuracy to alignment stars. It calibrates to correct slight mechanical misalignment due to transport, vibration, or aging. It is recommended that calibration be performed once on a new telescope after the user initially assembles it. When this menu is selected, the telescope slews to Polaris. Autostar II then prompts you to center Polaris and to press ENTER. Autostar II uses the position of Polaris to fine tune the position of North and also detects level for the base of the telescope. s s s Note: Custom Tracking Rate allows you to enter values from -999 (stands for 99.9%) to 999 (stand for +99.9%). The lower the number, the slower the rate; the higher the number the faster the rate. If you enter -999, the telescope will move so slow as to appear to be stopped. If you enter 999, the telescope will be moving at approximately twice the tracking rate. s Tracking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tracks targets in the sky. a. Sidereal: The default setting for Autostar II; sidereal rate is the standard rate at which stars move from East to West across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth. b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions. c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates. Guiding Rate: Allows you to change the base slew speed, 1x. Enter a percentage of the speed (less than 100%) and press ENTER. This function may be useful in guiding the telescope during CCD and long-exposure photography. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 17, for more information. s 29 s s s Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left and Right Arrow keys for controlling the telescope's motion (i.e., the Right key moves the telescope to the left). Reverse U/D: Reverses the functions of the Up and Down Arrow keys for controlling the telescope's motion (i.e., the Up key moves the telescope down). Home Sensors: Turns off or on the True North and True Level sensors, if preferred, for Easy, One-Star, and Two-Star alignment. User must then manually level the telescope and point the telescope to True North during alignment. Default setting is "On." GPS Alignment: Allows three options. Select "Off" if you wish to align the telescope manually (turns off GPS). Select "On" (default setting) if you wish to automatically align your telescope and want the telescope to get the GPS fix when it is needed during alignment. Select "At Start Up" if you want the telescope to get a GPS fix when the telescope is powered ip. Dec. PEC: Allows you to perform periodic error correction on the Dec. drive worm gear. Must be performed with a high-power reticle (eg., 9mm). R.A. PEC: Allows you to perform periodic error correction on the R.A. drive worm gear. Must be performed with a high-power reticle (eg., 9mm). High Precision: If High Precision is turned on, when looking for a faint celestial object (e.g., a nebula or galaxy), Autostar II first slews to a nearby bright star and displays "ENTER to Sync." Center the star in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescope has a high precision alignment to that part of the sky and it then slews to the object that was originally requested. s Do you want to learn how to perform the periodic error correction procedure? See PERIODIC ERROR CORRECTION, page 39. s s s Tip: If the "ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake (holding the ENTER key for more than 2 seconds), press MODE to return to the previous screen. Targets: Switches between Astronomical targets and Terrestrial targets. If "Astronomical" is selected, the telescope tracking motor is activated and any object you observe will remain centered in the eyepiece. If "Terrestrial" is selected, the tracking motor is turned off. See TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTOMATICALLY, page 18. Site provides access to several options including: s Select: Displays the currently selected observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through all available sites (see ADD below). Press ENTER when the site you wish to select displays. Use this option when you move to a different geographic location. s Add: Allows you to add new observing sites to the database. Scroll through the list of Countries/States. Press ENTER when the site you wish to add displays. Then choose the desired city in the same manner. However, when the GPS signal is received, the site is normally selected automatically and the site list is updated automatically. Use of this option is not necessary and is included for the convenience of those users who may wish to enter a site manually. You may edit the name of a site using the Edit option (see below). Want to learn more about adding and editing sites? See page 32. s s Delete: Deletes a stored site from the database. Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, latitude, longitude, and time zone. Time Zone refers to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone shift. Users West of Greenwich, England use "-" hours, East of Greenwich use "+" hours. For the United States, look up the time zone shift in Table 1. Note: Autostar II compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See SETUP MENU: DAYLIGHT SAVING, page 28. Time Zone Atlantic Eastern Central Mountain Pacific Alaska Hawaii Shift -4 Hours -5 Hours -6 Hours -7 Hours -8 Hours -9 Hours -10 Hours s Table 1: Time Zone Shift. Calculations are for standard time. Owner Info: Accesses the owner information menu, including: Name: Users may enter both their first and last names using the Up and Down Arrow keys to cycle through the alphabet. Use the Right and Left Arrow keys to move through the text. Press ENTER when the entry is complete. Address: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter your street address, city, state, and zip code. Press ENTER when the entry is complete. s Clone: Uploads information from one Autostar II handbox to another. Three options are available: s Catalogs: Sends only user-defined object information, such as new satellite orbits or comet data to another Autostar II handbox. 30 s Note: The Download function requires the optional LX200 Interface Cable. See the instruction sheet included with the cable for more information on how to download. Also see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 43. Software: Sends only the basic Autostar II software. This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version of Autostar II software from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and wants to pass this software along to friends. All: Everything--user-defined information and Autostar II software--is sent to another Autostar II. s Download: Transfers information from a personal computer or another Autostar II. During the operation, the warning "Downloading Do Not Turn Off" appears. s s Catalogs: Receives only user-defined object information, such as new satellite orbits or comet data to another Autostar II handbox. Software: Receives only the basic Autostar II software. This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version of Autostar II software from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and wants to pass this software along to friends. All: Everything--user-defined information and Autostar II software--is received by another Autostar II handbox. Important Note: If your download fails in the middle of the download attempt (e.g., your PC crashes), turn off the telescope. Turn the telescope back on and as soon the Autostar II display lights up, press "999." Then attempt the download again s s s s Statistics: Provides basic statistical data about Autostar II, including: Characters Free: Displays how much room is available in user-defined object memory. Version: Displays the current version of the Autostar II software. Serial Number: Displays the unit's serial number. Reset: Completely resets Autostar II. Most values entered into the menus revert to factory defaults. Autostar II requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding with observations. See AUTOMATIC ALIGNMENT, page 18. "Hot Button" Menus Two menus, six object libraries and two functions can be accessed directly using the Number keys (commonly referred to as "hot buttons"). The two functions, the Speed mode and the Utility light are described earlier in the manual. Focus Speeds: Key # Speed 1 or 2 Fine 3, 4, or 5 Slow 6 or 7 Medium 8 or 9 Fast Focus Control Menu: Press Number key "4" to select this menu directly from Autostar II's keypad. Press the Up or Down Scroll keys to cycle through the four focus speed options and then press ENTER to select the desired speed. Or press a Number key after pressing the Focus key to change the speed (see chart to the left). Use the Up or Down Arrow keys to achieve fine focus of the object. See page 17 for more information. Reticle Control Menu: Press Number key "7" to select this menu directly from Autostar II's keypad. "Reticle Control: Set Intensity" displays. Press ENTER. The Intensity menu allows you to change the intensity of the Reticle Eyepiece Illuminator. Use the Scroll keys to change the value. As you change the value, look through the reticle to note how the Intensity changes. Note: You may continue to change the values using the Scroll keys (and thus changing the intensity) until you press ENTER again. This allows you to experiment with the intensity level until you decide which intensity level works best for you. This feature operates in the same manner in the Rate and Duty Cycle menus. When you have finished adjusting the intensity, press ENTER. Press Number key "7" again and the Rate menu displays. Press ENTER again. Use the Scroll keys to change the value of the the rate at which the Reticle Eyepiece blinks. As you change the value, look through the reticle to note how the Blink Rate changes. When you have finished adjusting the rate, press ENTER. Next, Press Number key "7" again and the Duty Cycle menu displays. Press ENTER again. The Duty Cycle menu controls how long the Reticle Eyepiece Illuminator is on during a blink cycle. Use the Scroll keys to change the value. As you change the value, look through the reticle to note how the Duty Cycle changes. When you have decided on a Duty Cycle value, press ENTER. To exit the Reticle menu, press MODE once. Object Catalogs: See page 25 for more information. 31 ADVANCED AUTOSTAR II FEATURES Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic operations of Autostar II described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic knowledge of Autostar II and understand how to scroll to a desired menu or menu option, and how to enter numbers and text. It also assumes that you have initialized and aligned your telescope. Important Note: The Site information is stored in the Site menu. If you move the telescope outside of a 5 miles area of your initial observing location, Autostar II automatically determines your location when it gets a GPS Fix, and adds the new location to the Site menu. Adding Observing Sites If you plan to observe using Autostar II at different geographic locations, you can store observation sites in Autostar II's memory to help simplify your telescope setup. Perform these procedures using the Site options (Add, Select, Delete, Edit) of the Setup menu. To Add a Site to the user-defined site list: In this example, you will choose a city and add it to the database list. You will then select the site to enable it. 1. 2. 3. 4. Navigate to the "Setup: Site" menu. Press ENTER, Scroll through the options until "Site: Add" displays. Press ENTER. Scroll through the list of countries/states. Press ENTER when the country/state you wish to add displays. Scroll through the list of cities. Press ENTER when the city you wish to add displays. The Site is now added to the database. You may add sites using this method. To choose a site, navigate to "Setup: Select." Press ENTER. Scroll through the list of sites. When the desired site displays, press ENTER. 5. To Edit a Site: In this procedure, you will enter a location that is not available in the Autostar II database by editing data of a nearby site. You will edit the location's name, latitude, longitude, and the time zone shift. You will then select the site to enable it. You will need to know the latitude and longitude of your location to perform this procedure. 1. Using the Add option, choose a site on the list that is closest to your observing site and press ENTER so that the site is added to your observing sites list. Choosing a site already on the list (as opposed to using the "Custom" feature) makes it easier to edit, as the "Time Zone" value may not need to be changed. Scroll to "Site: Edit" and press ENTER. "Edit: Name" displays. Press ENTER. The name of the site you have just entered to your list displays; if it does not, scroll to the site. Using the Arrow keys, change the name of the site so that it now reads the name of your observing location. Press ENTER. "Edit: Name" displays again. Press the Scroll Down key and "Edit: Latitude" displays. Press ENTER. Using the Number Keys, enter the latitude of your observing site and then press ENTER. "Edit: Latitude" displays again. Press the Scroll Down key and "Edit: Longitude" displays. Press ENTER. Using the Number Keys, enter the longitude of your observing site and then press ENTER. "Edit: Longitude" displays again. Press the Scroll Down key and "Edit: Time Zone" displays. Press ENTER. (If the site you chose from the list in step 1 has the same Time Zone as the site you are editing, just press ENTER again to go on to the next step.) "Time Zone" refers to the Greenwich Time Zone shift. Users West of Greenwich, use "-" hours (one hour per time zone) and users East of Greenwich use "+" hours. For the United States, look up the shift in TABLE 1, page 30. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. After entering the shift, press ENTER. "Edit Time Zone" displays. 32 11. Press MODE. "Site: Edit" displays. 12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to "Site: Select." The site you have just edited displays. Press ENTER to select the site.