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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
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.
c
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 19 and
AUTOSTAR II MENUS
, page 25.
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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 (Fig. 2, 7) 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: 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”.
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 diff e r e n t
speeds. See
SLEW SPEEDS
, page 18. 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 (Fig. 2, 5) to move the cursor from one number to the next in
the display.
g
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.
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Want to learn more
about using the GoTo
function? See page 21.
Want to learn how to
perform a spiral
search? See the tip on
page 21.
Want to learn more
about the Focus
menu? See page 32.
Want to learn more
about changing slew
speeds? See page 18.
SPEED
1
FOCUS
4
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