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AutoStar #497 HANDBOX
11
ALIGNING THE LT SERIES
11
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 fi rst 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, fi rst verify
that “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR”, page 10,
has been performed. See “Moving through
Autostar’s Menus”, page 10, for a description
of how Autostar’s keys operate.
How to perform the Easy Align
Procedure
If you have just powered on the telescope, follow the
procedures listed in “Initializing Autostar” on page
23. When completed, continue on to the steps below
to perform the Easy Alignment procedure. If the
telescope is already powered on and the correct site
location, date, time and telescope model have already
been entered, the Easy Alignment can be started by
selecting in the menu Setup: Align: Easy and following
the steps below.
1. When the Easy Alignment procedure is selected
in the AutoStar’s setup menu, the display will
read “North Method: 1=True 2=Compass”.
AutoStar is asking which Home Position the
telescope will be placed in. See page 9, “The
LT Series Home Position” for a description on
placing the LT Series telescope into the home
position.
Note: The easiest way to set the telescope in
the home position is using the Magnetic North
method. Follow the steps on page 9 “Magnetic
North Home Position” and press the “2” key on
Autostar to select the “Compass” (Magnetic
North) method.
2. Star Alignment - The Autostar then chooses
two stars to align upon. When the telescope
slews to the fi rst star for alignment, it may not
appear in the fi eld 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. While looking
through the red dot fi nder, use the Arrow Keys
to move the telescope to place the red dot
on the top of the star. Now look through the
eyepiece and use the Arrow Keys to move the
star to the center of the eyepiece fi eld. Press
ENTER. If that area of the sky is obscured by
an object, you can prompt AutoStar to chose an
alternate star by pressing either one of the two
Scroll Keys. Repeat procedure for the second
alignment star.
When the procedure is performed correctly, “Alignment
Successful” displays. If Autostar does not display this
message, perform this procedure again.
Note: Autostar locates alignment stars based on the
date, time, and location entered. The 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.
NOTE: 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 fi nishes its
search. (This sometimes occurs during an alignment
procedure.) Press GO TO when the slew is fi nished
and the telescope starts slewing 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.
Which One’s the Alignment Star?
If you’re not familiar with objects in the night sky, 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
GoTo 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 viewfi nder. When you view an alignment
star in the viewfi nder, it stands out dramatically from the
rest of the stars in that portion of the sky.
The viewfi nder will help you locate a star more quickly
than the eyepiece. Using AutoStar, set the slew speed
to 6 (press Number key 6) or higher and use the Arrow
keys to center the alignment star in the viewfi nder. If
your viewfi nder 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 11.