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APPENDIX C: Using Starfinder to Enter Celestial
Coordinates
Although Starfinder's database contains more than 1400 objects (stars, nebulae,
planets, etc.) that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are
not part of the database. Starfinder provides a feature that allows you to enter an
object's R.A and Dec coordinates in the "User: Objects" option of Starfinder's Object
menu, and then will automatically slew the telescope to the user-entered coordinates.
In order to use this menu option, you first need to look up the R.A and Dec coordi-
nates of the object or objects you wish to observe. Check out your local library, com-
puter store, or bookstore for astronomy books, CD Roms, or magazines (such as Sky
& Telescope or Astronomy), to find coordinates of celestial objects. A list of the coor-
dinates of 14 common stars are printed at the end of this manual; see "STAR LOCA-
TOR," page 46.
The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your own permanent database,
called "User Objects." You may use this menu to view these object as often as you
like, but the objects' coordinates just need to be entered once.
To enter coordinates of an object into the "User: Objects" option of the Object
menu:
1. Make sure Starfinder has been initialized (see "INITIALIZING STARFINDER,"
page 17) and the telescope has been aligned (see "ALIGN YOUR TELESCOPE
USING STARFINDER," page 20).
2. After the telescope is aligned, "Select Item: Object" displays. (If necessary, use
the Scroll keys to scroll through the menus, as previously described, to find this
option.) Press ENTER.
3. "Object: Solar System" displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Up key until "Object:
User Object" displays and press ENTER.
4. "User Object: Select" displays. Press the Scroll Down key once. "User Object:
Add" displays. Press ENTER.
5. "Name" displays on the top line and a blinking cursor on the second line. Use the
Arrow keys (as previously described) to enter the name of the object you wish to
add to the database. When you are finished, press ENTER.
6. "Right Asc.: +00.00.0" displays. Use the Arrow keys to enter the digits for the
Right Ascension (R.A.) coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys
to change "+" to "-." When you are finished, press ENTER.
7. "Declination: +00°.00'" displays. Use the Arrow keys to enter the digits for the
Declination (Dec) coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to
change "+" to "-." When you are finished, press ENTER.
8. Starfinder then prompts you to enter the Size of the object. This step is optional.
Use the Arrow keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press ENTER to
go to the next display. If you do not wish to enter this information, simply press
ENTER.
9. Starfinder then prompts you to enter the Magnitude of the object. This step is also
optional. Use the Arrow keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press
ENTER to go to the next display. "User Object: Add" displays again.
To GO TO a user-entered object:
1. With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Up key once. "User Object:
Select" displays. Press ENTER.
2. Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to the desired object. Press ENTER.
3. The name of the object and the R.A. and Dec coordinates display.
4. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.
page 42