Instruction Manual
#497 AutoStar Handbox
for use with the DS-2090AT-TC and DS-2102AT-TC
MEADE.COM
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LCD Display |
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ENTER Key |
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MODE Key |
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GO TO Key |
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Arrow Keys |
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6 Number Keys |
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Scroll Keys |
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8 ? Key |
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9 RS232 Port |
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Coil Cord |
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Light key |
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Utility Light |
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Fig. 1: AutoStar keys
® The name “Meade,” “AutoStar,” and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved.
Patents:
US 6,392,799
Other Patent Pending
© 2005 Meade Instruments Corporation.
AUTOSTAR FEATURES
Nearly all telescope operations are accomplished with just a few pushes of AutoStar’s buttons. Some of the major features of AutoStar are:
NAutomatically move the telescope to any of the 30,000 objects stored in the database or manually enter the astronomical coordinates of any celestial object.
NTake a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year.
NAccess a glossary of astronomical terms.
NCalculate which eyepiece to use for optimum viewing of a celestial object.
The AutoStar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope operation. AutoStar has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make AutoStar extremely user friendly.
NOTE: AutoStar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power to AutoStar.
B 2-Line LCD Display: This screen displays AutoStar's menus and information about the telescope.
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•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.
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 to the topmost screen: “Select Item: Object.”
If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, information about the telescope's status displays. When the status displays, press one of the Scroll keys 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.
e GO TO Key: After the telescope is aligned, press to slew (move) the telescope to the coor-
dinates |
of |
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currently selected |
object. |
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slewing, the operation |
may be aborted at any time by pressing any key except GO TO. |
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Pressing |
GO |
TO |
again resumes the |
slew |
to the |
object. |
Also, press |
during the alignment or GO TO procedures to activate a "spiral search." |
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f 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 16. Use the 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.
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Additionally, use the Arrow keys to to move the cursor across the display: Use the Right or Left Arrow key to move the cursor from one number to the next in the display.
g Number Keys: Press to input digits 0 to 9. To change the speed at which the telescope moves (known as the “slew” speed) press a NUMBER KEY from 1 through 9. 1 is the slowest speed and 9 is the fastest.
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 display. When text is scrolling, press and hold the Up Scroll key for a faster display speed and the Down Scroll key for a slower display speed.
i ? Key: Press to access the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on how to accomplish whatever task is currently active.
Press the ? key and then follow the prompts on the display to access details of AutoStar functions in the Help feature. The Help system is essentially an on-screen instruction manual.
If you have a question about an AutoStar 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 RS232 Port: Plug in optional cable to download the latest satellite data and software revisions directly from the Meade website (www.meade.com). You can also share software with other AutoStar enthusiasts or control your telescope remotely from your PC. (Requires optional #505 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See the Meade General Catalog or go to www.meade.com for more information.)
1) Coil Cord Port/Coil Cord: Plug one end of the supplied AutoStar coil cord into this port located at the bottom of the handbox and the other end into the HBX port of the Computer Control Panel.
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Light/0 Key: Press to turn on Utility light.
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.
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Initializing AutoStar
This section describes how to initialize AutoStar. Perform this procedure the first time you use AutoStar.
1.Tighten Locks: Tighten the Altitude lock and tripod base lock knob.
2.Plug in AutoStar: Make sure the telescope power switch is in the OFF position. Plug AutoStar into the HBX port of the Control Panel.
3.Turn on AutoStar: Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
4.Sun Warning: A message displays that warns you not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by AutoStar to signify that the message has been read and understood.
5.Bypass Getting Started: The Getting Started menu displays a scrolling message. Press ENTER to bypass the Help tutorial.
6.Daylight Savings Time: The next screen requests the status of Daylight Savings Time. Press one of the Scroll keys to toggle between the YES/NO settings. When the desired setting displays, press ENTER.
7.Set Your Location or Zip Code: The Location screen displays. This screen asks you if you wish to choose either the zip code of your observing location or the location (i.e.,entering the city and state or country of your observing location). Press Up to select the zip code option or down to enter the city and state.
Note: The location settings (country/state/province and city, or zip code) are only asked for the first time you turn on the control panel. If you wish to change this setting later on, use the Site menu.
a.If you chose the zip code option, the leftmost “0” is highlighted. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the digits. When you reach the desired number, use the Right Arrow key to move to the next digit position. Repeat this process until all 5 digits of your zip code are entered. Press ENTER.
b.If you chose the location option, the next screen asks for the country or state/province (listed alphabetically) of the observing site.
Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of countries, states, and provinces. Press ENTER when the correct location displays.
The next screen asks for the city (listed alphabetically) closest to the observing site. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of cities. Press ENTER when the correct city appears on screen.
8.AutoStar then requests the telescope model number. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of models. Press ENTER when your model number displays.
9.System initialization is complete. The Easy Alignment feature begins automatically after the control panel is initialized.
Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature
In this example, the AutoStar Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then AutoStar's tracking capability automatically keeps the star centered in your telescope's eyepiece.
1.Set in Home Position: Level the optical tube and point it North. Make sure that the Altitude Lock and tripod base lock knob are secured as described previously.
2.Plug in AutoStar: Make sure the telescope power switch is in the OFF position. Plug AutoStar into the HBX port of the Control Panel.
3.Turn on AutoStar: Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
4.Sun Warning: A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by AutoStar to signify that the message has been read and understood.
5.Select Daylight Savings: Set Daylight Savings, if prompted.
6.Select Setup: Align Option: Press MODE. "Setup: Align" displays.
7.Select Setup:Targets Option: Press the Scroll Down key repeatedly until "Setup: Targets" displays. Press ENTER.
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8.Select Targets: Astronomical Option: "Targets: Terrestrial" displays. Press either of the Scroll keys once. "Targets: Astronomical" now displays.
9.Locate a Bright Star: Use the Arrow keys to locate a bright star in the night sky. You may choose any unobstructed, bright star for the purposes of this example. Use AutoStar's Arrow keys to center the star in the eyepiece.
10.To Start Tracking: Once the star is centered, press ENTER to select "Astronomical." The telescope's tracking motors then engage. It may take the tracking motors several seconds to begin tracking. When they do, it may be necessary to once again center the star in the eyepiece. The tracking motors will then keep the star you have chosen in the center of the eyepiece.
If you wish to track another star, use the Arrow keys to slew the telescope to the star. Center the star. The tracking motors will then keep that star in the center of the eyepiece.
11.To Stop Tracking: Press ENTER. "Setup: Targets" displays. Press ENTER. "Targets: Astronomical" now displays. Press either of the Scroll keys once. "Targets: Terrestrial" displays. Press ENTER. Tracking is now turned off.
Easy (Two-Star) Align
The fastest and easiest way to locate objects with Autostar's GO TO capabilities is to use Easy Align.
Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database for the Easy Align procedure. During this procedure, Autostar slews the telescope to a first alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then prompted to center the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the alignment.
NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 16, has been performed. See MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR’S MENUS, page 16, if you wish to learn how to operate Autostar’s keys.
How to Easy Align Your Telescope
If you have just applied power to Autostar, perform steps 1 through 3. If you have already performed the initialization procedure, go to step 4.
1.Sun Warning - Press the key prompted by Autostar to accept.
2.Getting Started - Press ENTER to continue.
3.Daylight Savings - Select “Yes” or “No,” then press ENTER.
4.Alignment Option Screen - “Setup: Align” displays. Press ENTER.
5.Select Alignment - “Align: Easy” displays. Press ENTER.
6.Set Alt/Az Home Position - Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az Alignment home position.
To Set the Home Position:
•Loosen the telescope’s Altitude lock.
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Level the optical tube: Line up 0° on the Altitude setting circle with the |
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molded triangular pointer next to the circle. |
•Tighten the Altitude lock to a firm feel only.
•Point the telescope North. Use a compass or the North Star, Polaris as a guide to locating North.
7.Star Alignment - Autostar then chooses two stars to align upon. When the telescope slews to the first star for alignment, it may not appear in the field of view 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. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star is visible and centered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for the second alignment star.
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