Meade Instruments LX200 - Manual (Page 50)

Meade Instruments Corporation - Meade LX200 Instruction Manuals
The RA = display is broken down into hours, minutes, and
seconds, and the DEC = display is broken down into + for North
Declination and - for South Declination into degrees, minutes
and seconds as shown in Display 29:
If you have made an ALTAZ style of alignment, the ALT = and
AZ = coordinate display is formatted so that 0 degrees Azimuth
(AZ =) is due South that increases to up to 359 degrees, 59
minutes, and 59 seconds moving clockwise, or from due South
moving Westerly. Altitude (ALT =) is formatted so that straight
overhead is +90. degrees and 00 minutes, decreasing to +00. degrees, 00 minutes, and 00 seconds as you
move the telescope level with the horizon, and then as the LX200 moves below +00:00:00 it will give minus
Altitude readings. The Altazimuth coordinate display is shown in Display 30:
While in ALTAZ, you will find during slewing in one direction, that both the RA= and DEC= display will
change at the same time, while the ALT= and the AZ= display will only change in the direction that the
telescope is being slewed. It is also important to note that only the Declination Setting Circle (3, Fig. 3) will
give a correct reading. The R.A. Setting Circle (10, Fig. 3) will only give correct readings in the POLAR
setting (see Appendix B: Equatorial Use).
[ toc ] b. GO TO Menu Option
The GO TO menu option, allows you to enter new Right Ascension and Declination coordinates of any
object in the sky, so that the LX200 will slew to the new position. With this ability, your LX200 knows no
bounds, any celestial object, including comets, asteroids, etc. are easily found, provided you have accurate
coordinate data to refer to.
To enter a new pointing position in Right Ascension and Declination, press the GO TO key and a double
beep will be heard followed by a blinking cursor that will appear over the RA = coordinate numbers. At this
point, type in the new Right Ascension coordinate numbers, then press the ENTER key. You will then
notice that the blinking cursor is over the DEC = coordinate numbers. Enter the new Declination coordinate
numbers, then press the ENTER key and the LX200 will slew to the new coordinate position.
If you need to enter a minus Declination setting, move the blinking cursor over the + symbol with the W key
and then press the NEXT key to get the - (minus) symbol, then move the blinking cursor to the first number
with the E key and enter the new coordinate numbers. If you are already at a minus (-) Declination setting
and wish to enter a plus (+) declination setting, follow the same instructions as above but press the PREV
key instead to get the + symbol.
[ toc ] c. Slew To ALTAZ Coordinates
This feature is similar to the GO TO Right Ascension and Declination coordinates option. It allows you to
directly enter the altitude and azimuth coordinates and slew to this position. This also can be used in the
LAND mode, allowing the automatic acquisition of land objects for commercial applications. (Note: This
feature is not available in the POLAR mode.)
To slew to ALTAZ coordinates, follow these steps:
1. Go to the ALTAZ display.
2. Press the GO TO key on the Keypad. You will hear a quick double beep, and a blinking cursor will
appear in the ALT display line on the Keypad display.
3. Key in the desired ALT position and hit the ENTER key. The blinking cursor will move to the AZ line.
4. Key in the desired AZ position. When the ENTER key is pressed, the telescope will slew to the new
position.
[ toc ] 3. Mode Three: CLOCK/ CALENDAR
The continuously operating clock and calendar is the life pulse of your LX200. At power up, the telescope's
accurate sidereal clock automatically allows the system computer to make orbital calculations of the
planets, and correct stellar precession for superior pointing ability.
Your accurate initial input of local time and date, with its' long-life lithium battery back-up, need not be re-
entered every time you use the LX200, thus enhancing the user friendly aspects of the instrument.
To set the local time and date and to enter the correct GMT offset, refer to section D. QUICK START, of
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