Meade Instruments LX80 - Manual (Page 22)

and DEC locks.
• Once centered, an object can be focused by
turning one of the knobs of the focusing mechanism
(Page 8, Fig 1, 11). Notice that when observing
astronomical objects, the fi eld of view begins
to slowly drift across the eyepiece fi eld. This
motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth on
its axis. Objects appear to move through the fi eld
more rapidly at higher powers. See TRACKING
OBJECTS, Page 23, for detailed information
on how you can counteract the drift in the fi eld
of view.
Using AudioStar’s GoTo Capabilities
Before you can use AudioStar’s GoTo capabilities, you
must fi rst:
• Learn how AudioStar’s keys move through
the menus
• Initialize AudioStar
• Place the telescope in either the alt-azimuth or
Polar home position. If you have not already done
so (see Setting the Polar Home Position, Page 28
or Page 25 for the Alt-Azimuth Home position)
• Perform a quick alignment on the night sky using
AudioStar’s alignment routine.
Moving Through AudioStar’s Menus
The AudioStar database is organized in levels for quick
and easy navigation.
• Press ENTER to go deeper into AudioStar’s
menu levels.
• Press MODE to move back toward the top
menu level.
• Press the Scroll keys to move up and down through
the options available for each level.
• Press the Arrow keys to enter characters, digits
and to move the cursor across the display. The
Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope in
each direction.
• Press the Number keys to enter digits
• Press the Help (?) key (Page 33, Fig 39, 8) to
access on-line help.
Activate the Arrow Keys
AudioStar’s arrow keys allow you to slew (move)
the telescope up, down, right, or left. The following
procedure describes how to activate AudioStar’s
Arrow keys:
1. After the batteries are installed and AudioStar’s
cord is plugged into the HBX port of computer
control panel (Page 10, Fig 3, D), a copyright
message displays on the AudioStar LCD display
(Page 33, Fig 39, 1).
2. If you are using the LX80 for the fi rst time, it will
prompt you to select the desired language. Select
English by pressing the enter key. You can use
the hand controller to move the telescope in each
direction and change the slew speeds.
Slew Speeds
AudioStar has nine slew speeds that move the optical
tube at rates that are directly proportional to the sidereal
rate and have been calculated to accomplish specifi c
functions. Press a Number key (Page 33, Fig 39, 6) to
change the slew speed, which is shown for about two
seconds on AudioStar’s display.
The nine available speeds are:
Number Key 1 = Guide (0.25 arc-min/sec
or 0.004°/sec)
Number Key 2 = 2x = 2x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec
or 0.008°/sec)
Number Key 3 = 8x = 8x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or
0.033°/sec)
Number Key 4 = 16x = 16x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec
or 0.067°/sec)
Number Key 5 = 64x = 64x sidereal (16 arc-min
sec or 0.27°/sec)
Number Key 6 = 128x = 30arc-min/sec or 0.5°/sec
Number Key 7 = 1.5° = 90arc-min/sec or 1.5°/sec
Number Key 8 = 3° = 180arc-min/sec or 3°/sec
Number Key 9 = Max = 270arc-min/sec or 4.5°/sec
Speeds 1, 2 or 3: Best used for fi ne centering of an
object in the fi eld of view of a higher power eyepiece,
such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece.
Speeds 4, 5 or 6: Enables centering an object in the
fi eld of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the
standard 26mm.
AudioStar #497 HANDBO
X
Getting Started
22