User manual MEADE LX90GPS

[. . . ] Instruction Manual 8", 10", 12" LX90GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes AutoStar® -- GPS-- SmartFinderTM TM WARNING! Never use a Meade® LX90TM Telescope to look at the Sun!Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. CONTENTS Quick-Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ] and Dec coordinates of any celestial object using Number keys, overwriting the coordinates currently displayed. As soon as the coordinates are entered, AutoStar slews the telescope to the coordinates. However, if you wish to store the coordinates of an object in memory, use the method described at the right. Using AutoStar to Find Objects Not in the Database In this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial objects that do not appear in any of the AutoStar database lists. You will enter the object's name and RA and Dec coordinates (required information). You may also enter the object's magnitude and size (optional information). Although AutoStar contains an extensive database of celestial objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc. ) that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are not part of the database. AutoStar provides a feature that allows you to enter an object's R. A and Dec coordinates in the "User: Objects" option of the Object menu and allows automatic slewing of the telescope to the user-entered coordinates. In order to use this menu option, you first need to look up the R. A and Dec coordinates of the object or objects you wish to observe. Check out your local library, computer store, or bookstore for astronomy books, CD Roms, or magazines (such as Sky & Telescope or Astronomy), to find coordinates of celestial objects. The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your own permanent database, called "User Objects. " To enter coordinates of an object into the "User: Objects" option of the Object menu: 1. Make sure AutoStar has been initialized and the telescope has been aligned. After the telescope is aligned, "Select Item: Object" displays. (If necessary, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the menus, as previously described, to find this option. ) Press ENTER. Keep pressing the Scroll Up key until "Object: User Object" displays and press ENTER. "Name" displays on the top line and a blinking cursor on the second line. Use the Arrow keys, as previously described, to enter the name of the object you wish to add to the database. Use the Number keys to enter the digits for the Right Ascension coordinate of your object. Use the Number keys to enter the digits for the Declination coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+" to "-. " When you are finished, press ENTER. Use the Number keys to enter the size (in arc-minutes), if so desired, and press ENTER to go to the next display. Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversable damage to your eye. 7. 8. 33 9. AutoStar then prompts you to enter the magnitude of the object. [. . . ] Open Clusters are loose groupings of young stars, all recently formed from the same diffuse nebula. Constellations are large, imaginary patterns of stars believed by ancient civilizations to be the celestial equivalent of objects, animals, people, or gods. To learn the constellations, start with an easy grouping of stars, such as the Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Galaxies are large assemblies of stars, nebulae, and star clusters that are bound by gravity. [. . . ]