Meade Instruments ETX-80AT-TC - Manual (Page 18)

18
Easy Alignment
After you initialize the system, AutoStar displays “Easy Align.” The fastest and easiest way to
start observing with AutoStar is with Easy Alignment.
During Easy Alignment, AutoStar automatically picks two alignment stars from its database of
celestial objects. It will then slew the telescope to a first alignment star. The user is asked to
verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then to center the star in the eye-
piece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the alignment.
1. Select Alignment: “Align Easy” displays. Press ENTER.
2. Set Home Position: AutoStar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az
Alignment home position (see margin note and
Figs. 15 and 16). To set your telescope in
the "Alt/Az" home position:
• Loosen the telescope’s vertical lock ( 13, Fig. 1).
• Level the optical tube with the horizon. Move the optical tube until the pointer points at
approximately “0” on the setting circle ( Fig. 15).
• Tighten the vertical lock to a "firm feel" only.
• Unlock the horizontal lock ( 14, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points
North. Re-lock the horizontal lock.
• Remove the 45° prism and eyepiece from the rear cell port. It may interfere with the
alignment procedure. After alignment, you may replace the prism and eyepiece.
• Press ENTER.
3. Center Alignment Stars: The AutoStar then 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 recog-
nized 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.
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 tele-
scope finishes it search. (This sometimes occurs during an alignment procedure.) Press GO TO
when the slew is finished 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.
Go To Saturn
After performing the Easy Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the tele-
scope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position
even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars.
IMPORTANT NOTE : Once aligned, only use the GO TO or Arrow keys to move the
telescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks ( 13 and 14, Fig. 1), or move the base
manually, or alignment will be lost.
This exercise demonstrates how to select an object for viewing from AutoStar’s database. This
example demonstrates how to select Saturn.
NOTE: Saturn is not visible the entire year and you may need to choose another
object from AutoStar's database; however, the procedure, as described below,
remains the same.
1 After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item: Object” displays. Press ENTER.
2. “Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.
3. “Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until “Solar System:
Saturn” displays.
North
Declination
at 0˚
Pointer
Fig. 15: Alt/Az Alignment
Home Position
.
Note:
The "Telescope: Mount"
option of the Setup
menu is set to "Alt/Az"
as the default alignment
by the factory.The
example presented in
this section assumes
that you are performing
an alignment procedure
for the first time with
your telescope and
therefore, the
"Telescope: Mount"
option does not need to
be selected.
Fig. 16: The ETX-80 is
supplied with a bubble
level. When setting the
home position, use the
bubble level to help level
the telescope and to find
North.
Remove the eyepiece from
the 90° holder and drop in
the bubble level. Adjust the
telescope tube the bubble
enters the center circle of
the bubble level.
Line up the North - South
line of the compass with
you telescope tube. Move
the tube until the tube
points North.