Instruction Manual - Meade Instruments

Meade Instruments Corporation

Instruction ManualAutostar

®#494 Computer Controller

QUICK START GUIDE

To connect Autostar to your telescope:� Remove the telescope from its packaging. Attach the

viewfinder (if necessary) and insert an eyepiece into thetelescope focuser. See your telescope instruction man-ual for detailed assembly information.

� Tighten the telescope’s vertical and horizontal locks.

� Plug Autostar’s coil cord into the computer control panelHandbox (HBX) port (Fig. 1). Make sure the telescope'smotor assemblies are plugged into the proper ports.

� Plug the power cord into the 12V connector (Fig. 1).

� A warning not to look at the Sun then scrolls across theAutostar display. Press the key prompted by Autostar toindicate you have read and understood the message.

� Press the ENTER key (2, Fig. 3) repeatedly until"Country/State" appears on the Autostar display. (Ignorethe prompts for the time, date, and daylight saving.These functions will be covered later in this manual.)

� Use the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3) to cycle throughthe list of countries, states, and provinces. PressENTER (2, Fig. 3) when the desired location appearson the Autostar display.

� Autostar then prompts you to enter the city nearest tothe observing site. Use the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3)to cycle through the list of cities. Press ENTER (2, Fig.3) when the desired city appears on the display.

� Autostar then prompts you to enter your telescopemodel. Use the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3) to cyclethrough the list of models. Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3)when your telescope model appears on the display.

� The display then reads "Align: Easy." You now can useAutostar's Arrow keys (5, Fig. 3) to move the telescopeto observe. Practice using the Arrow keys to slew(move) the telescope up, down, left, and right.

� Sight along the side of the telescope’s main tube or usethe viewfinder to locate objects. Practice using theAutostar Arrow keys to center objects in the telescope’sfield of view and also practice using the telescope’sfocus knob to bring objects into focus.

WARNING: Never use Autostar to move a tel-escope to look at the Sun! Looking at or nearthe Sun will cause instant and irreversible dam-

age to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so thereis no warning to the observer that damage has occurreduntil it is too late. Do not point a telescope or its viewfind-er at or near the Sun. Do not look through a telescope orits viewfinder as it is moving. Children should alwayshave adult supervision while observing.

COMPUTER CONTROL

12v

HBX AZ ALT AUX

12v HBX

Fig. 1: DS computer control panel 12vand HBX connector ports.

Fig. 2: Sun Warning on theAutostar LCD display.

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WARNINGLOOKING AT OR NEAR

TABLE OF CONTENTSQuick Start Guide 2Autostar Features 5

Getting Started 7Assembly Instructions 7Manual Observation Using Arrow Keys 7Using Autostar's GO TO Capability 8Moving through Autostar's Menus 8Initializing Autostar 8

Autostar Navigation 11Training the Drive 13Alignment 14

Easy Two-Star Alignment 14Which One's the Alignment Star 16Two-Star ALT/AZ Alignment 16One-Star ALT/AZ Alignment 16Go To Saturn 16Using the Guided Tour 17Slew Speeds 18

Autostar Menus 19Object Menu 20

To Observe a Satellite 20Event Menu 22Glossary Menu 23Utilities Menu 23Setup Menu 24

To Track an Object Automatically 26General Maintenance 27

Meade Customer Service 28Specifications: Autostar 28Optional Accessories 28

Appendix A: Entering R.A. and Dec Coordinates 29

The Autostar #494 Handbox is compatible with the Meade® DS (DigitalElectronic Telescope) series. Please refer to your telescope’s instructionmanual for information specific to your telescope model.

® The name “Meade,” the Meade logo, and “Autostar” are trademarks reg-istered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout theworld. All rights reserved.

© 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation.

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Key to Fig. 3

� Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Screen (2-lines, 16 characters each line)

� ENTER Key

� MODE Key

� GO TO Key

� Arrow Keys (Up, Down, Left, and Right)

� Scroll Up Key

� Scroll Down Key

Speed/? (Speed/Help) Key

Coil Cord

Fig. 3: Autostar #494 Features.

1

2

5

4

3

6

8

7

9

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AUTOSTAR FEATURESControl of nearly every telescope function is accomplishedwith just a few pushes of Autostar's keys. Autostar has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (LightEmitting Diode) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit dis-play, key arrangement, and sequential database makeAutostar extremely user-friendly.

Refer to Fig. 3 for the positions of the following keys.

� 2-Line LCD Display: Provides a visual interfacebetween Autostar and the telescope.

Top line: Lists the primary category or menu item. Bottom line: Contains a menu option, or information aboutan object or subject, depending on which function is beingperformed.

� ENTER Key: Accesses, in a sequential manner, the nextmenu or data level in the Autostar database (see“AUTOSTAR NAVIGATION,” page 11). The ENTER key issimilar to the RETURN key on a computer.

NOTE: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds ormore and then released, Autostar emits a beepand “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER toSync" is relevant only after the telescope hasbeen aligned and is pointing at an object. If the"ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake,press MODE to return to the previous screen. See"HIGH PRECISION," page 25.

� MODE Key: Returns to the previous menu or data levelin the Autostar database until the top level (“Select Item”) isreached. The MODE key is similar to the EXIT key on acomputer.

NOTE: Pressing MODE while in the Select Itemlevel moves Autostar to the topmost screen:"Select Item: Object."

NOTE: If MODE is pressed and held for two sec-onds or more, the following information is thenavailable using the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3):

• Azimuth (horizontal) and Altitude (vertical) coordinates

• Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST) • Timer and Alarm Status

� GO TO Key: Slews (moves) the telescope to the coordi-nates of the currently selected object. While the telescope isslewing, the operation may be aborted at any time by press-ing any key except GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumesthe slew to the object.

� Arrow Keys: Slew the telescope in a specific direction(up, down, left, and right), at any one of nine differentspeeds (see “SLEW SPEEDS,” page 18). The followingfunctions are also available with the Arrow keys:

� Data Entry: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to Scrollthrough the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits.The Down Arrow key starts with the letter "A" and theUp Arrow key starts with the digit "9." The Left and Right

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Arrow keys are used to move the blinking cursor leftand right across the LCD display.

� Alt/Az alignment: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys tomove the telescope vertically up and down. The LeftArrow key rotates the telescope horizontally counter-clockwise, while the Right Arrow key rotates it clock-wise.NOTE: Throughout this manual, you will noticethe term "Alt/Az." Alt/Az is frequently used torefer to Altitude or vertical and Azimuth or hori-zontal. Alt/Az is just one of many methods usedby amateur astronomers to help locate stars inthe night sky.

� � Scroll Keys: Access database options within aselected menu. The menu is displayed on the first line ofthe screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one ata time, on the second line. Press the Scroll keys to movethrough the options. Press and hold one of the Scroll keysto move quickly through the options.

The Scroll keys also scroll through the letters of the alpha-bet and numerical digits.

NOTE: The Scroll Down key and the Down Arrowkey move forward through the alphabet & digits (Ato Z, 0-9) and the Scroll Up key and the Up Arrowkey move backward (9-0, Z to A).

Speed/? Key: Pressing the Speed/? key cycles throughthe nine slew speeds that move the telescope. Each time

the Speed/? key is pressed briefly, the current slew speeddisplays. See “SLEW SPEEDS,” page 18.

The Speed/? key also accesses the "Help" file. "Help"provides on-screen information on how to accomplishwhatever task is currently active.

TIP: Pressing the Speed/? key very brieflychanges the slew speed. Holding down theSpeed/? key longer (one to two seconds)accesses the Help function.

Hold down the Speed/? key and then follow theprompts on the display to access details of Autostarfunctions in the Help feature. The Help system isessentially an on-screen instruction manual.

If you have a question about an Autostar operation,e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT, etc., hold downthe Speed/? key and follow the directions that scroll onthe second line of the LCD screen. When a wordappears in [brackets], press ENTER to access theAutostar Glossary. A definition or more detailed infor-mation is displayed. Press MODE to return to the scroll-ing Autostar Help display.

When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE toreturn to the original screen and continue with the cho-sen procedure.

Coil Cord: Plug into the Handbox (HBX) port of thecomputer control panel of the telescope.

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GETTING STARTEDControl of your DS telescope is through the operation of thestandard-equipment #494 Autostar. Nearly all functions ofthe telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes ofAutostar’s buttons. Some of the major features of Autostarare:

� Automatically move the telescope to any of the morethan 1400 objects stored in the database or manuallyenter the astronomical coordinates of any celestialobject.

� Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to viewon any given night of the year.

� Download the latest satellite data and software revi-sions directly from the Meade website(www.meade.com). (Requires optional #506AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See“OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 30.)

� Access a glossary of astronomical terms.� Calculate which eyepiece to use for optimum viewing

of a celestial object.� Mount the telescope in the “Alt/Az” mode (Altitude -

Azimuth, or vertical - horizontal) for fully automatictracking of celestial objects

PARTS LISTINGAutostar comes completely assembled. When first openingthe packing box, note the following parts:

� Autostar #494 handbox � Instruction manual ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONSPower for Autostar is supplied through the telescope. Nointernal batteries are required. See the telescope instruc-tion manual for details.

To attach Autostar to a telescope:1. If necessary, remove the power cord from the 12v port

of the computer control panel (Fig. 1, page 2). 2. Plug Autostar into the HBX port of the computer control

panel (Fig. 1 page 2). Make sure the telescope's motorassemblies are plugged into the proper ports. See yourtelescope instruction manual for detailed assemblyinformation.

3. Plug the power cord back into the 12v port of the com-puter control panel.

MANUAL OBSERVATION USING THE ARROW KEYS 1. After Autostar's cord is plugged into the HBX port and the

power cord is plugged into the 12v port, a copyright mes-sage lights on the Autostar LCD display (1, Fig. 3).

2. A message warning not to look at the Sun scrollsacross the display. Press the key prompted by Autostarto acknowledge that the Sun warning has been readand understood.

3. Press the ENTER key (2, Fig. 3) repeatedly until"Country/State" appears on the display. (Ignore theprompts requesting Date, Time, and Daylight Saving –these functions will be explained later in the manual.)

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4. Use the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3) to cycle through thelist of countries, states, and provinces (listed alphabeti-cally). Press ENTER when the desired location dis-plays.

5. Autostar then prompts you to enter the nearest city tothe observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle throughthe list of cities. Press ENTER when the desired city dis-plays.

6. Autostar then prompts you to enter the telescope modelyou are using. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through thelist of models. Press ENTER when your telescopemodel displays. "Align: Easy" displays. You now canuse Autostar's Arrow keys to move the telescope toobserve.

TIP: If you go past the "Align: Easy" (or any othermenu display you wish to select), press MODE(3, Fig. 3) to return to the previous display(s).

7. Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 3) to slew (move) the tel-escope up, down, right, or left. You can slew (move) thetelescope at different speeds.

USING AUTOSTAR'S GO TO CAPABILITYThis section describes how to make observations using var-ious Autostar features and menus. But before you can useAutostar's GO TO capabilities, you must first:

� Learn how Autostar's keys move through the menus

� Initialize Autostar

� Train the drive

� Align the telescope

� Select "Align: Easy" from Autostar's menusMOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR’S MENUSAutostar's menus are organized for quick and easy naviga-tion:

� Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3) to go deeper into Autostar'smenu levels.

� Press MODE (3, Fig. 3) to move back toward the topmenu level.

� Press the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3) to move up anddown through the options available for each level.

� Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 3) to enter characters anddigits.

INITIALIZING AUTOSTARThis section describes how to initialize Autostar.Initialization is a procedure that enables Autostar to operatecorrectly. When you first use Autostar, it doesn't yet "know"the location of the observing site or the time or date of theobservation session. During the Initialization procedure, youwill enter this information. Autostar then uses the informa-tion to calculate the location of celestial objects and to moveyour telescope correctly for various operations.

NOTE: You will enter the Time and Date at thebeginning of each observing session, but you willonly enter your location and Telescope Model the

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first time you use Autostar or after performing aReset. Fig. 4 depicts an example of an AutostarInitialization procedure.

1. Plug Autostar's cord into the HBX port and plug thepower cord into the 12v port as previously described.Make sure the motor assemblies are plugged into theproper ports (see your telescope's instruction manualfor details). Also make sure that the telescope's horizon-tal and vertical locks are tight (see the telescope instruc-tion manual).

2. The Autostar handbox is now activated and a copyrightmessage displays briefly.

3. Autostar takes a few moments to prepare the systemand then "beeps."

4. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun.Press the key prompted by Autostar to signify that youhave read and understood the message.

5. The Getting Started menu displays a scrolling messagewith two choices: a. Hold down the Speed/? key (8, Fig. 3) for informa-

tion on Autostar functions and controls. When fin-ished, press MODE (3, Fig. 3) to exit Help and toreturn to the Getting Started procedure, or,

b. Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3) to bypass the Help tutori-al and continue with initialization.

6. The telescope tests the motors by slewing a short dis-tance vertically and horizontally (this test only occursthe first time you use Autostar).

NOTE: If the telescope does not move, ormoves in only one axis, check that the verticaland horizontal locks are tight (see your tele-scope instruction manual for details).

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Enter Time:08:00:00PM (default)

1 (1X)

(1X)

1 (3X)

(1X)

4 (4X)

7 (7X)

PM

Enter Time:11:47:00PM

ENTER

Daylight Savings>NO

(00) Meade (1.0)A U T O S T A R

Initializing. . .

WARNING LOOKING AT . . .

ENTER

Getting StartedFor a Detailed...

Enter Date:01-Jan-2000

2 (2X)

(1X)

6 (5X)

(1X)

Mar (2X)

2000 (4X)

2001 (1X)

Enter Date:26-Mar-2001

Country/State AFGHANISTAN

Country/State CALIFORNIA

Nearest City ALAMEDA NAS

Nearest City IRVINE

Setup Align

MultiplePresses

ENTER

ENTER

MultiplePresses

(default)

Press the appropriate key

ENTER

Telescope Model (Model Number)

MultiplePresses

Telescope Model (Your Model Number)

ENTERENTER

Fig. 4: Example of Initialization Procedure.

Parameters in this example:Date: March 26, 2001Time: 11:47 PM Location: Irvine, California

7. Autostar then prompts you to enter the current date. a. To enter numbers, press either the Up or Down

Arrow key (5, Fig. 3) to scroll through numbers 0through 9. After the desired number is displayed,use the Right Arrow key (5, Fig. 3) to move the cur-sor from one number to the next in the day display(or use to Left Arrow key to move in the other direc-tion across the display, if necessary).

b. Use the Right Arrow key (5, Fig. 3) to move the cur-sor to the month. Use the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig.3) to cycle through the list of months. When thecurrent month is displayed, use the Right Arrow (5,Fig. 3) to move the cursor to the year.

c. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter all fourdigits of the current year. Use the Right Arrow key(5, Fig. 3) to move the cursor from one number tothe next.

d. Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3) when the entire date hasbeen entered.

8. Autostar then prompts you to enter the current time.Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter digits andthe Right and Left Arrow keys move the cursor acrossthe screen as described in the previous step. Enter thecurrent time (use a "0" for the first digit if less than 10).Use the Up Arrow key to scroll through "AM," "PM," or"blank." The "blank" option selects the 24-hour (i.e.,military time) clock. Then press ENTER to start theclock.

TIP: When multiple choices are available withina menu option, the option that is currently select-ed is usually displayed first and highlighted by aright pointing arrow (>).

9. Autostar then prompts you to enter the status ofDaylight Savings Time. Press one of the Scroll keys toswitch between the YES/NO settings. Select thedesired setting by pressing ENTER.

NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred toby different names in various areas of the world.

10. Autostar then prompts you to enter the Country or State(listed alphabetically) of the observing site. If you havepreviously entered the Country/State and City of yourobserving site and your Telescope Model Number (asdescribed in "MANUAL OBSERVATION USING THEARROW KEYS," page 7), go to step 11. If you have notyet entered this information, perform the followingsteps:

a. Autostar prompts you to enter the Country or State(listed alphabetically) of your observing site. Usethe Scroll keys to cycle through the list of countries,states, and provinces. Press ENTER when thedesired location displays.

b. Autostar then prompts you to enter the city nearestto your observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cyclethrough the list of cities. Press ENTER when thecorrect city displays.

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c. Autostar then prompts you to choose your tele-scope model number. Use the Scroll keys to cyclethrough the list of telescope models. Press ENTERwhen your telescope model number displays.

NOTE: Autostar only prompts you to enterCountry/State, City, and Telescope ModelNumber the first time it is activated. Theseprompts do not appear again, unless you resetAutostar (see "RESET," page 26).

However, if you change your geographic loca-tion, you can change the location information byusing the Site option of the Setup menu. See"SITE," page 26, for detailed information.

If you use Autostar with another DS model tele-scope, you can change the model number infor-mation using the "Telescope Model" option of theSetup menu. See page 25. Also see"CALIBRATE MOTOR," page 25.

11. System initialization is completeand the display reads "Align:Easy." Proceed to "AUTOSTARNAVIGATION" for general infor-mation about Autostar beforetraining the drive and aligning thetelescope.

AUTOSTAR NAVIGATIONFigs. 5 and 6 depict the six primary categories listed in the"Select Item" menu of Autostar. See “MOVING WITHINAUTOSTAR” to learn how to access these categories.

It is important to understand that menu selections are set ina loop (Fig. 5). This means that pressing the Scroll Downkey (7, Fig. 1) cycles down through all the available optionswithin a given category, then returns to the first option. TheScroll Up key (6, Fig. 1) cycles up through the options in theopposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to getto an option that is near the bottom of the list. The followingexample demonstrates this capability.

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The Universe ofAutostar

Select Item: Setup

Select Item: Utilities

Select Item: Glossary

Select Item: Guided Tour

Select Item: Event

Select Item: Object

SETUPQuick, easy alignmentpermits all telescopeoperations with onlya 2-minute setup.

UTILITIESCalculate eyepiecemagnifications; set thetimer for an observingsession; or survey userlandmarks in 30-secondintervals.

GLOSSARYDiscover the world of astronomyby alphabetically accessing astronomical terms.

OBJECTSelect from over 1400 database objects andpress GO TO to move the telescope automatically to theobject and place it in the telescopic field of view.

EVENT Access the time ofan astronomicalevent, such as the rising or settingtimes of the Moon.

GUIDED TOURJourney through theuniverse as Autostarescorts you to the best celestial objectsat your location.

Fig. 6: Autostar Universe.

ObjectEvent Guided ToursGlossaryUtilitiesSetup

Fig. 5: Menus are setin a loop.

Example:To navigate to the "Select Item: Setup" menu option whenthe "Select Item: Object" menu is displayed:

1. Press the Scroll Down key four times or the Scroll Upkey once.

Autostar's LCD display presents two lines of information.The top line shows the current menu level. The second linedisplays an option which may be selected within that menulevel. Some options are choices that select the next menulevel down. The Scroll keys move up and down within thelist of available options, showing one option at a time.

When the desired option is displayed on the second line,press the ENTER key to choose that option and movedown one menu level.

Press the MODE key to leave a level.

IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter how many levels intoAutostar are traveled, each press of the MODE key movesup a level, until "Select Item," is reached. Once in the"Select Item" level, press MODE to return to the topmostlevel, "Select Item: Object."

AUTOSTAR NAVIGATION EXERCISETo demonstrate how the Autostar menu structure works, thefollowing exercise calculates the Sunset time so an eveningobserving session can be planned.

NOTE: To perform an accurate calculation,Autostar must be properly initialized with the cur-rent date, time, and location of the observing site.

If you have not yet entered the current date, timeand/or location information of your observing site,see “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 8, beforeproceeding with this exercise.

1. Press MODE repeatedly until the "Select Item: Object"displays.

2. Press the Scroll Down key once. "Select Item: Event"displays.

3. Press ENTER to select "Event" and to move down amenu level. "Event: Sunrise" displays.

4. Press the Scroll Down key once. "Event: Sunset" displays.

5. Press ENTER to select the "Sunset" option.

6. Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the cur-rent date, time, and location. Autostar then displays thethe time of Sunset.

7. Press MODE once to move back up through theAutostar levels. The first level up is "Event."

8. Press MODE again to move up another level. This isthe top menu level, "Select Item."

9. Press MODE again to return to the starting point of"Select Item: Object."

10. Proceed with “TRAINING THE DRIVE.”

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TRAINING THE DRIVE Perform this procedure the first time power is applied or afterperforming a Reset.

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NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a tele-phone pole or lamp post, to train the drive.Repeat this exercise once every 3 to 6 months tomaintain the highest level of telescope pointingaccuracy.

Select Item Object

Select Item Setup

Setup Align

Setup Telescope

3

4

6

1Press > until itis centered

Press < until itis centered

Train Drive Az. Train

Train Drive Alt. Train

Drive Setup For this op. . .

Center referenceobject.

Telescope Telescope Model

Telescope Train Drive


Drive Setup For this op. . .

Center referenceobject.


Select Item Object

Press until itis centered

Press v until itis centered

ENTER ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

MODE

Press the Scroll Up key once.

Access the Setupmenu.

Multiple presses.

Scope slews left.Bring target backto center usingthe Right Arrow key.

Access the Telescope menu.

Multiple presses.

5

Choose the TrainDrive option.

Azimuth (horizontal)training.

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Reminder to use terrestrialtarget.

Center targetusing Arrowkeys.

Scope slews right.Bring target backto center usingthe Left Arrow key.

Menu returns toAz. training.

Altitude(vertical)training.

Reminder to use terrestrialtarget.

Center targetusing Arrowkeys.

Scope slews down.Bring target backto center usingthe Up Arrow key.

Scope slews up.Bring target backto center usingthe Down Arrowkey.

Multiple presses.

ENTER ENTER

ENTERVerify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete.

Press MODE until Select Item is displayed.

1

2

v

ALIGNMENTAs the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appearto move from East to West. The speed at which the starsmove is called the sidereal rate.

If the telescope is aligned, the motor drive is designed tomove the telescope at the sidereal rate so that it automati-cally tracks the stars. Tracking keeps an object centered inthe telescope’s eyepiece and makes it easier to locateother objects.

Autostar offers three methods of alignment: Easy Two-Star,One-Star Alt/AZ, and Two-Star Alt/AZ. In Easy Two-Staralignment, Autostar automatically picks two alignment starsto align upon from its database. This method is recom-mended for first-time observers. One-Star Alt/AZ Alignmentand Two-Star Alt/AZ Alignment allow the observer tochoose the alignment stars from Autostar’s database duringthe alignment procedure.

The term "Alt/Az" is frequently used to refer to the Altitudeor vertical and Azimuth or horizontal movements of yourtelescope. Other terms to describe a telescope's movementmay be used with telescopes that have different types ofmounts.

EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENTThe fastest and easiest way to start observing withAutostar's GO TO capabilities is to perform an Easy Two-Star Alignment.

Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database forthe Easy Two-Star Alignment procedure. During the EasyAlignment procedure, Autostar slews the telescope to thefirst alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the tel-escope is pointed at the chosen star and then prompted tocenter the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeatedwith a second star to complete the alignment.

NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verifythat “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 8, hasbeen performed. See “MOVING THROUGHAUTOSTAR’S MENUS,” page 8, for a descriptionof how Autostar’s keys operate.

Easy Two-Star Alignment Procedure:1. Sun Warning: Press the key prompted by Autostar to

acknowledge that the warning was read and under-stood.

2. Getting Started: Press ENTER to continue, or theSpeed/? key to access the Autostar Help tutorial. PressMODE to leave the tutorial at any time.

3. Enter Date: If you have not already done so, enter thecurrent date, then press ENTER.

4. Enter Time: If you have not already done so, enter thecurrent time. Select "AM," "PM," or 24-hour clock(blank). Then press ENTER.

5. Daylight Savings: If you have not already done so,select “Yes” or “No,” then press ENTER.

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6. Select Alignment: “Align: Easy” displays. PressENTER.

7. Set Home Position: Autostar then prompts you to setthe telescope in the "Alt/Az" Alignment home position(Altitude-Azimuth or vertical-horizontal).

To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position:� Level the optical tube and the tripod base so that

they are parallel (horizontal) to the ground. See Fig. 8a.� Tighten the horizontal and vertical locks to a "firm feel" only. � Physically move the telescope so that it points North.

Learn the position of Polaris (Fig. 8b), the North star, oruse a small pocket compass, to determine which direc-tion is North.

� Press ENTER.8. Star Alignment: Autostar then chooses two stars to

align upon. When the telescope slews to the first starfor alignment, it may not appear in the field of view inthe eyepiece. Use theArrow keys to move thetelescope until the staris visible and centeredin the eyepiece. Thealignment star shouldbe easily recognizedand be the brighteststar in the area of thesky where the tele-

scope is pointing. Press ENTER. Repeat procedure forthe second alignment star.

NOTE: Autostar locates alignment stars basedon the date, time, and location entered duringInitialization. Alignment stars may change fromnight to night, and hour to hour. All that isrequired from the observer is to center theselected stars in the eyepiece using the Arrowkeys when prompted.

TIP: Another method to find the alignment star ifit does not appear in the eyepiece is to performa "spiral search." If the alignment star is notvisible in the eyepiece when the telescope fin-ishes its search, press GO TO and the telescopestarts slewing in a spiral pattern at a very slowspeed around the search area. Look through theeyepiece and when the object becomes visible,press MODE to stop the spiral search. Use theArrow keys to center the object.

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N

Fig. 8a: DS Home Position.

PolarisLittle Dipper

Big Dipper Cassiopeia

Fig. 8b: Locating Polaris.

WHICH ONE’S THE ALIGNMENT STAR?If Autostar has chosen an alignment star that you are unfa-miliar with, how can you be sure if the star in your eyepieceis really the alignment star?

The rule of thumb is that an alignment star is usually thebrightest star in that area of the sky. When you view analignment star in an eyepiece, it will standout dramaticallyfrom the rest of the stars in that portion of the sky.

If you have an obstruction, such as a tree or a buildingblocking your view of the alignment star, or if you have anydoubts at all about the star that has been chosen, no prob-lem. Just press the Scroll Down key and Autostar findsanother star to align upon.

TWO-STAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENTAnother method of alignment, Two-Star Alignment,requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar pro-vides a database of bright stars and allows the observer tochoose two stars from the database for alignment.

1. Perform steps 1 through 8 as described in the "EASYTWO-STAR ALIGNMENT," page 14.

2 . Autostar displays a database of stars for the observerto choose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a starthat you wish to align upon. Select a star that you caneasily locate in the night sky.

3. Press ENTER. The telescope slews to the star foralignment. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescopeuntil the star is visible and centered in the eyepiece.

4. Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for the second align-ment star. The telescope is aligned and you are nowready to use Autostar's GO TO capabilities for a nightof observing.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not use Polaris as analignment star. Choose stars for alignment thatare as far apart as possible.

ONE-STAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT One-Star Alignment also requires some knowledge of thenight sky. Autostar provides a database of bright stars.One-Star Alignment is identical to Two-Star Alt/Az:Alignment (see “TWO-STAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT,” above),except only one star from this database is chosen by theobserver for alignment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The accuracy of One-StarAlt/Az Alignment, unlike the Two-Star Alignmentprocedures, depends on how well the observerlevels the telescope and how close to North thetelescope is pointed when setting the HomePosition (Fig. 12). Because the Two-StarAlignments use two stars to align upon, they aremore precise than One-Star Alignment.

GO TO SATURNAfter alignment, the motor drive begins operating and thetelescope is ready for a night of viewing. Objects in the eye-piece should maintain their position (i.e., the telescopetracks the object) even though the Earth is rotating beneaththe stars.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Once aligned, only use theGO TO or Arrow keys to move the telescope. Donot loosen the horizontal and vertical locks of thetelescope, or move the tripod manually, or align-ment will be lost.

This exercise demonstrates how to select an object forviewing from Autostar’s database. This example demon-strates how to select Saturn.

NOTE: Saturn is not visible the entire year andyou may need to choose another object fromAutostar's database; however, the procedure, asdescribed below, remains the same.

1 After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item: Object” dis-plays. (If “Select Item: Object” is not currently displayed,press MODE repeatedly until it displays.) PressENTER.

2. “Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.

3. “Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep pressing theScroll Down key until “Solar System: Saturn” displays.

4. Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then “Saturn”and a set of coordinates displays. Saturn’s (and otherplanets’) coordinates change throughout the year.

5. Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays and the tele-scope slews until it finds Saturn. You may need to use theArrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece.Autostar then automatically slews (moves) the telescopeso that it "tracks" Saturn (or whatever other object you

may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains centered in theeyepiece. If an object is observed in the telescope withoutusing Autostar's GO TO or automatic tracking capabilities(see "TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTOMATICALLY," page25), the object gradually drifts out of the field of view dueto the Earth's rotation.

USING THE GUIDED TOURThis example demonstrates using “Tonight’s Best” GuidedTour.

1. After observing Saturn, press MODE twice so that“Select Item: Object” displays again.

2. Press the Scroll Down key twice. “Select Item: GuidedTour” displays.

3. Press ENTER. “Guided Tour: Tonight’s Best” displays.Press ENTER.

NOTE: If you wish to try other Guided Tours,press the Scroll Down key to scroll through othertour choices. When the tour you wish to selectdisplays, press ENTER.

4. “Tonight’s Best: Searching...” displays. After calculating,“Tonight’s Best: Jupiter” displays.

NOTE: Different objects may be displayed on atour list on any given night.

Press ENTER and then use the Scroll keys to displayinformation about the object. Press Mode to exit theinformation display. Press GO TO to move the tele-scope to the object.

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5. Press MODE to return to the Tour list. Press the Scrollkeys to scroll through the list. Press ENTER when youfind the next object you wish to observe.

6. Press MODE and hold for two seconds to leave theGuided Tour menu.

SLEW SPEEDSAutostar has nine slew speeds that are directly proportion-al to the sidereal rate and have been calculated to accom-plish specific functions. Pressing the Speed/? key brieflychanges the slew speed, which is shown for about two sec-onds on Autostar’s display.

NOTE: Pressing the Speed/? key very briefly changesthe slew speed. Holding down the Speed/? key longer(one to two seconds) accesses the Help function.

The nine available speeds are:

Speed 1 = Max = 1200 x sidereal

(300 arc-min/sec or 5°/sec)

Speed 2 = 2° = 480 x sidereal


Speed 3 = 1° = 240 x sidereal


Speed 4 = 0.5° = 120 x sidereal

(30 arc-min/sec or 0.5°/sec)

Speed 5 = 64x = 64 x sidereal









(0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008°/sec)

Speed 1: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in thesky to anotherSpeeds 2 or 3: Best used for rough centering of an objectin the eyepiece.Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enables centering an object in the fieldof a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standardMA 25mm.Speeds 7, 8, or 9: Best used for fine centering of an objectin the field of view of a high power eyepiece, such as thestandard MA 9mm or higher powers.

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AUTOSTAR MENUS

Fig. 9: The Autostar Menu Structure.

Solar SystemMercuryEtc.MoonAsteroidsComets

ConstellationsAndromedaEtc.

Deep SkyNamed ObjectGalaxiesNebulaePlanetary Neb.Etc.

StarNamed SAO CatalogDoubleEtc.

SatelliteSelectAddDeleteEdit

User ObjectsSelectAddDeleteEdit

LandmarksSelectAddDelete

Identify

SunriseSunsetMoonriseMoonsetMoon Phases

Next Full MoonNext New MoonNext 1st QtrNext 3rd Qtr

Meteor ShowersQuadrantidsLyridsEta AquaridsDelta AquaridsPerseidsOrionidsTauridsLeonidsGeminidsUrsids

Solar EclipsesLunar EclipsesMin. of AlgolAutumn EquinoxVernal EquinoxWinter SolsticeSummer Solstice

Tour Objects A...Accretion DiskEtc.

B...C...D...E...F...G...H...I...J...K...L...M...N...O...P...Q...R...S...T...U...V...W...X...Y...Z...

TimerSetStart & Stop

AlarmSetOn & Off

Eyepiece Calc.Field of ViewMagnificationSuggest

Display OptionsSun WarningGetting Started

Brightness Adj.Contrast Adj.Battery AlarmLandmark SurveySleep ScopePark Scope

AlignEasyOne StarTwo Star

DateTimeDaylight SavingTelescope

Tele. ModelFocal LengthAz/Alt RatioTrain DriveTracking RateReverse L/RReverse Up/DnCalibrate MotorHigh Precision

TargetsAstronomicalTerrestrial

SiteSelectAddDelete Edit

Owner InfoDownloadStatisticsReset

Select Item: Object

Select Item: Event

Select Item: Guided Tour

Select Item: Glossary

Select Item: Utilities

Select Item: Setup

Tonight's BestHow Far is FarA Star's Life

OBJECT MENUAlmost all observing with Autostar is performed using theObject menu category. (NOTE: Exceptions include GuidedTour and Landmark Survey.) See “GO TO SATURN,” page16, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Alsosee “USING THE GUIDED TOUR,” page 17.

Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. AnAutostar database is a list of viewable objects, such asstars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one ofthese objects is selected, Autostar moves your telescope (ifproperly aligned) and points it at the selected object.

The Object Menu options include:

Solar System is a database of the eight planets (Earth isnot included) in order out from the Sun, followed by theMoon, asteroids, and comets.

Constellation is a database of all 88 Northern andSouthern Hemisphere constellations. When this menuoption is chosen and a constellation name appears on thefirst line of the screen, press GO TO once to change thesecond line to the name of the brightest star in the constel-lation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope tothat star. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of starsin the constellation, from brightest to dimmest.

Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our SolarSystem such as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, andquasars.

Star is a database of stars listed in different categories suchas named, double, variable, or nearby.

Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects such as theInternational Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope,Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and geosyn-chronous orbit satellites.

To Observe a Satellite: 1. Choose a satellite from the Select menu, then press

ENTER. Autostar scans its database to find if that satel-lite is expected to pass overhead within the next 6hours.

2. If a satellite is expected, use the Scroll keys to accessa list of data about the pass, including acquisition time,location, etc.

3. At the end of the list is "Alarm." Press ENTER andAutostar automatically sets the alarm to sound severalminutes before the scheduled appearance. You mayreturn to regular observations until the alarm goes off.

4. When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite menuand press a Scroll key until the desired satellite is onthe top line of the display.

5 Press GO TO. Autostar slews the telescope to wherethe satellite should appear. The motor drive stops and acountdown starts.

NOTE: If the scheduled appearance positionof the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by a building,

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tree, or hill), press ENTER and Autostar startsto move the telescope along the expectedsatellite track. When the track clears theobstruction, press ENTER again to pause thetelescope, then continue with this procedure.

6. With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer,start watching through the telescope viewfinder (oreyepiece if your telescope does not have an viewfind-er) for the satellite to enter the field of view.

7. When the satellite enters the viewfinder field of view,press ENTER. The telescope starts to track with thesatellite.

8. Use the Autostar Arrow keys to center the object in theviewfinder, then look through the eyepiece to view theobject.

Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including theSpace Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade web site(www.meade.com) approximately once a month to getupdated information and instructions on how to downloadthis data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more thanone month old, the satellite pass may not happen at thetime predicted by Autostar. Requires optional #506AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See“OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 30.

NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting chal-lenge. Most satellites are in low orbit, travel-ling at approximately 17,500 mph. When visi-ble, they move quickly across the sky and are

only in the field of view for a few minutes,requiring Autostar to slew the telescope rapid-ly. Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunsetwhen the sky is still dark. Viewing in the mid-dle of the night can be problematic becausethe satellite may pass overhead, but not bevisible as it is in the Earth's shadow.

User Objects allows the user to define and store in mem-ory deep-sky objects of specific interest that are not cur-rently in the Autostar database. See "Appendix A" for moreinformation.

Landmarks stores the location of terrestrial points of inter-est in the permanent Autostar database.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark func-tion, the telescope must be located and alignedexactly as when the landmark was added to thedatabase.

� Select: To select a Landmark already in the database(see "Add" below), choose the "Select" option andscroll through the list. Press ENTER to select aLandmark, then press GO TO and the telescope slewsto the object.

� Add: To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option.Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate and center theLandmark in the eyepiece, then press ENTER.

Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who wants toscan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope

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has been properly aligned, use the Autostar Arrow keys tomove about in the sky. Then follow this procedure:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only use the Arrow keys tomove the telescope during the Identify proce-dure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or movethe base or alignment is lost.

1. When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keeppressing MODE until the “Select Item: Object” menu isdisplayed. Press ENTER to select this menu.

2. Scroll through the Object menu options until the“Object: Identify” screen appears.

3. Press ENTER. Autostar searches the database for theidentity of the object being observed.

4. If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar databaseobject, the nearest database object is located and dis-played on the screen. Press GO TO and the telescopeslews to that object.

EVENT MENUThe Event menu provides access to dates and times ofastronomical events. The Event database includes:

Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun risesor sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for otherdates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu.See "DATE," page 24.

Moonrise and Moonset calculates the time that the Moonrises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times forother dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date”menu. See "DATE," page 24.

Moon Phases displays the date and time of the next Full,New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd Quarter Moon.

Meteor Showers provides information on upcoming meteorshowers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids, etc. Also liststhe dates of the showers and when they reach maximum.

NOTE: Meteors are fast moving objects that coverlarge areas of the sky and are usually bestobserved with the naked eye.

Solar Eclipse lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including thedate and type (total, annular, or partial) of eclipse, and thelocation and time of the first and last contacts of the Moon'sshadow. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display theavailable data. Remember, never use a telescope to look atthe Sun! See “WARNING!” page 2.

Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including thedate and type (total, partial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use theScroll Up and Down keys to display the available data.

Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of thedramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relativelyclose at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days dur-ing a 10-hour period, Algol undergoes a major change inapparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind

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the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thusdips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through theeclipse as the second star is hidden. Autostar calculatesminimum magnitude time at mid-eclipse.

Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and dateof the fall or spring equinox of the current year.

Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and dateof the winter or summer solstice of the current year.

GLOSSARY MENUThe Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of defi-nitions and descriptions for common astronomical termsand Autostar functions. Access directly through theGlossary menu or through hypertext words embedded inAutostar. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usual-ly found when using the Autostar Help function or whenreading a scrolling message such as a description of a plan-et or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is onscreen and Autostar goes to the glossary entry for thatword.

To access directly from the Glossary menu, use the Scrollkeys to scroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on thedesired letter. Scroll to the desired entry and then pressENTER to read the description.

UTILITIES MENUThe Utilities menu provides access to several extra featureswithin Autostar, including a countdown timer and an alarm.The Utilities functions include:

Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful forfunctions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites.See “TO OBSERVE A SATELLITE,” page 20. To use theTimer, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or “Start/Stop”.

� Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, min-utes, and seconds, then press ENTER.

� Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use theScroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ONis displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer. Whenthe timer runs out, four beeps sound and the timer isdeactivated.

Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder. Touse the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose "Set" or"Start/Stop."

� Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm to sound, inhours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER.

� Start/Stop: Activates the alarm set previously. Use theScroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ONis displayed, press ENTER to activate the alarm. Whenthe alarm time arrives, Autostar beeps. Press ENTER todeactivate the alarm.

Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece forthe specific telescope to which Autostar is connected.

� Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eye-pieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the field of viewis calculated.

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� Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eye-pieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the magnifica-tion is calculated.

� Suggest: Autostar calculates and suggests the besteyepiece for viewing, based on the telescope and theobject being viewed.

Display Options enables or disables Autostar’s two initialdisplays. If both displays are disabled, Autostar begins withthe Date display.

� Sun Warning: Turns the “Sun Warning” message on oroff.

� Getting Started: Turns the “Getting Started” messageon or off.

Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display usingthe Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER.

Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using theScroll keys. When complete, press ENTER.

NOTE: This feature is usually only required invery cold weather.

Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to alluser-defined landmarks with a short pause at each location.Press ENTER to start the survey. While a slew is inprogress, press any key to skip that object and go to thenext landmark on the list. To observe a landmark for alonger period, press MODE when paused on the object tostop the survey. Press ENTER to restart the survey at thefirst object on the list. See "LANDMARK," page 21.

Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts downAutostar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment.With "Sleep Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate theSleep function. Autostar goes dark, but the internal clockkeeps running. Press any key, except ENTER, to re-acti-vate Autostar and the telescope.

Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not movedbetween observing sessions. Align the telescope one time,then use this function to park the telescope. Next time it ispowered up, enter the correct date and time – no alignmentis required. Pressing ENTER causes the telescope to moveto its pre-determined Park position. Once parked, thescreen prompts to turn off power.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When the "Park Scope"option is chosen and the display prompts you toturn off the telescope's power, Autostar is unableto be returned to operation without turning thepower off and then back on.

SETUP MENUThe Setup menu’s primary function is to align the telescope(see "ALIGNMENT," page 14). However, there are numer-ous other features available within the Setup menu, includ-ing:

Date changes the date used by Autostar. This function isuseful to check events in the past or future. For example,set the Date menu for a day three months in the future.Then check the "Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunsettime on that date. See “EVENT MENU,” page 22.

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Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting thecorrect time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate loca-tions and events. Time may be set to 24-hour mode (militarytime) by selecting the "blank" option which follows the "AM"and "PM" options.

Daylight Saving is used to enable or disable DaylightSavings time.

NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred toby different names in various areas of the world.Check local time to verify.

Telescope accesses the several options, including:

� Telescope Model: Selects the model of telescope con-nected to Autostar.

� Focal Length: Displays the focal length of the selectedtelescope.

� Az Ratio and Alt Ratio: The Az (Azimuth) ratio and Alt(Altitude) ratio refers to the gears of the telescope'smotors. Do not alter these numbers.

� Train Drive: Trains the Altitude and Azimuth motors tolocate objects with more precision. If you are experiencing any problems with pointingaccuracy, or performed a Reset, follow the proceduredescribed in “TRAINING THE DRIVE,” page 13, toinsure accurate pointing and tracking.

� Tracking Rate: Changes the speed at which the tele-scope tracks targets in the sky.

a. Sidereal: The default setting for Autostar; siderealrate is the standard rate at which stars move fromEast to West across the sky due to the rotation ofthe Earth.

b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track theMoon over long observing sessions.

c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined trackingrates.

� Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left andRight Arrow keys (i.e., the Right key moves the tele-scope to the left).

� Reverse UP/DOWN: Reverses the functions of the Upand Down Arrow keys (i.e., the Up key moves the tele-scope down).

� Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear tohave a problem, use this option to retest the motorsbefore performing a Reset. This option is also used if anAutostar unit is moved between telescopes, to matchAutostar to the new telescope. To calibrate the motors,select this option and press ENTER.

� High Precision: If High Precision is turned on, whenlooking for a faint celestial object (i.e., a nebula orgalaxy), Autostar first slews to a nearby bright star anddisplays "ENTER to Sync." Center the star in the eye-piece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescopehas a high precision alignment to that part of the skyand it then slews to the object that was originallyrequested.

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Targets switches between Astronomical targets andTerrestrial targets. If "Astronomical" is selected, the tele-scope tracking motor is activated and any object youobserve will remain centered in the eyepiece. If "Terrestrial"is selected, the tracking motor is turned off. To track an object automatically: Set the telescope in theAlt/Az home position (see "EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENTPROCEDURE," step #8, page 15), locate an object youwish to observe using the Arrow keys (see page 7), andcenter the object in the eyepiece. Then select "Targets:Astronomical" and press ENTER. Autostar then automati-cally slews (moves) the telescope to keep the object cen-tered in the eyepiece. Note that it may take the trackingmotors several several seconds to begin tracking and youmay need to center the chosen object in the eyepieceagain.Site provides access to several options including:

� Select: Displays the currently selected observing site.Use the Scroll keys to cycle through all available sites(see "Add" below). Press ENTER when the site youwish to select displays. Use this option when you moveto a different geographic location.

� Add: Allows you to add new observing sites to thedatabase (up to six sites may be stored). Scroll throughthe list of Countries/States. Press ENTER when thesite you wish to add displays. Then choose the desiredcity in the same manner.

� Delete: Deletes a stored site from the database.

� Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, lati-tude, longitude, and time zone. Time Zone refers to theGreenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone shift. UsersWest of Greenwich, England use “-” hours, East ofGreenwich use “+” hours. For the United States, lookup the time zone shift in table above.

NOTE: Autostar compensates for daylight sav-ings time, if selected. See “Setup Menu: DaylightSaving,” page 25.

Owner Info accesses the owner information menu, including:

� Name: Users may enter both their first and last namesusing the Up and Down Arrow keys to cycle through thealphabet. Use the Right and Left Arrow keys to movethrough the text. Press ENTER when the entry is com-plete.

� Address: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enteryour street address, city, state, and zip code. PressENTER when the entry is complete.

Download transfers information from a personal computeror another Autostar. During the operation, the warning“Downloading Do Not Turn Off” appears. (Requires option-al #506 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit.See “OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES,” page 30.)

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Time Zone Shift Time Zone ShiftAtlantic -4 Hours Mountain -7 HoursEastern -5 Hours Pacific -8 HoursCentral -6 Hours Hawaii -10 Hours

Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar,including:

� Characters Free: Shows how much room is availablein user-defined object memory.

� Version: Shows the current version of the Autostarsoftware.

Reset completely resets Autostar. Autostar requires initial-ization again after a Reset before proceeding with observa-tions. See “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 8. You alsoneed to perform “TRAINING THE DRIVE,” page 13.

GENERAL MAINTENANCEAutostar is a precision electronic instrument designed toyield a lifetime of rewarding observations. Given the careand respect due any precision instrument, Autostar rarely, ifever, requires factory servicing or maintenance.Maintenance guidelines include:

� Do not leave Autostar inside a sealed car on a warmday; excessive ambient temperatures can damage theelectronic circuitry.

� When not connected to a telescope, be sure to storeAutostar and the coil cord in a cool dry place, and insuch a way as to prevent damage (i.e., in its originalpacking box).

� The connectors on the end of the coil cord are fairlyrugged and should yield years of use under normal cir-cumstances. Take care when storing the cord so thatthe connectors do not become crushed or abraded.

TROUBLESHOOTING

NOTE: See the telescope instruction manual foradditional troubleshooting ideas.

The following suggestions may be helpful if there are diffi-culties with the operation of the Autostar ComputerController:

The Autostar screen does not display any information:� Verify that the coil cord is firmly connected to the com-

puter control panel's HBX port (Fig. 1).

� Verify that the telescope batteries are installed correct-ly and that they have sufficient charge.

Autostar is beeping:� The Timer or Alarm function may have been activated

(see "Timer" and "Alarm").

Autostar does not slew to the correct object:� The telescope mount may not be stable (if mounted

with Alt/Az One Star alignment) or the mount has beenmoved after alignment. Verify the stability and orienta-tion of the telescope and mount, then re-align the tele-scope (see “ALIGNMENT,” page 14).

� The motors may not be properly calibrated. Re-cali-brate the motors by choosing the "Select Item: Setup"menu, then scroll to the Telescope option. PressENTER to choose "Telescope," then scroll to "CalibrateMotors." Press ENTER again and the screen displays"Testing Motors." Re-align the telescope and attempt toobserve. If the problem persists, a Reset may be nes-sary.

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MEADE CUSTOMER SERVICEIf you have a question concerning Autostar, contact theMeade Instruments Customer Service Department at:

Telephone: 1-800-62-MEADEFax: (949) 451-1460

Customer Service hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, PacificTime, Monday through Friday. In the unlikely event that theAutostar requires factory servicing or repairs, write or callthe Meade Customer Service Department first, beforereturning Autostar to the factory, giving full particulars as tothe nature of the problem, as well as your name, address,and daytime telephone number. The great majority of serv-icing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding returnof the telescope to the factory.

AUTOSTAR SPECIFICATIONSProcessor......................................68HC11, 8MHzFlash Memory ..............................512KB, reloadableDisplay ..........................................2 line, 16 character LCDBacklight ......................................Red LEDCoil Cord ......................................24"AUTOSTAR DIMENSIONSLength ..........................................14.2cm (5.60")Width (LCD end) ..........................78.0cm (3.08")Width (Connector end)..................53.5cm (2.10")Depth ............................................23.5cm (0.93")Autostar net weight ......................0.169kg (0.35 lbs.)

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIESSee your telescope manual for a complete listing of allaccessories.

#506 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit:Displays more than 10,000 celestial wonders – galaxies,nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets – on your PC,enabling even the beginner to locate and identify objects toobserve with the telescope or to print out star charts for usein observing sessions. Operates with any Windows™-based personal computer. The Cable Connector Kit permitsconnection of a DS telescope, Autostar, and PC, for down-loading of new software to Autostar or for updating of Earthsatellite or other celestial object positions. This kit is includ-ed with each AstroFinder Software package.

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Fig. 10. AstroFinder Software

APPENDIX A: ENTERING R.A. AND DEC COORDINATESAlthough Autostar's database contains more than 1400objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc.) that you can observe,you may eventually want to view objects that are not part ofthe database. Autostar provides a feature that allows you toenter an object's R.A and Dec coordinates in the "User:Objects" option of Autostar's Object menu and then auto-matically slews the telescope to the user-entered coordi-nates.

In order to use this menu option, you first need to look upthe R.A and Dec coordinates of the object or objects youwish to observe. Check out your local library, computerstore or bookstore for astronomy books, CD Roms, or mag-azines (such as Sky & Telescope or Astronomy), to findcoordinates of celestial objects. A list of the coordinates of14 common stars are printed at the end of this manual; see"STAR LOCATOR," page 30.

The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your ownpermanent database, called "User Objects." You may usethis menu to view these object as often as you like, but theobjects' coordinates just need to be entered once.

To enter coordinates of an object into the "User:Objects" option of the Object menu:

1. Make sure Autostar has been initialized (see "INITIAL-IZING AUTOSTAR," page 8) and the telescope hasbeen aligned and set to the Alt/Az home alignmentposition (see "EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT," page14).

2. After the telescope is aligned, "Select Item: Object" dis-plays. (If necessary, use the Scroll keys to scrollthrough the menus, as previously described, to find thisoption.) Press ENTER.

3. "Object: Solar System" displays. Keep pressing theScroll Up key until "Object: User Object" displays andpress ENTER.

4. "User Object: Select" displays. Press the Scroll Downkey once. "User Object: Add" displays. Press ENTER.

5. "Name" displays on the top line and a blinking cursoron the second line. Use the Arrow keys (as previouslydescribed) to enter the name of the object you wish toadd to the database. When you are finished, pressENTER.

6. "Right Asc.: +00.00.0" displays. Use the Arrow keys toenter the digits for the Right Ascension coordinate ofyour object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change"+" to "-." When you are finished, press ENTER.

7. "Declination: +00°.00'" displays. Use the Arrow keys toenter the digits for the Declination coordinate of yourobject. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+"to "-." When you are finished, press ENTER.

8. Autostar then prompts you to enter the Size of theobject. This step is optional. Use the Arrow keys toenter this information, if so desired, and press ENTERto go to the next display. If you do not wish to enter thisinformation, simply press ENTER.

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9. Autostar then prompts you to enter the Magnitude ofthe object. This step is also optional. Use the Arrowkeys to enter this information, if so desired, and pressENTER to go to the next display. "User Object: Add"displays again.

To GO TO a user-entered object:

1. With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Upkey once. "User Object: Select" displays. PressENTER.

2. Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to thedesired object. Press ENTER.

3. The name of the object and the Right Ascension andDeclination coordinates display.

4. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

STAR LOCATORThe chart below lists bright stars with their R.A. and Deccoordinates, along with the Northern Hemisphere seasonwhen these stars are prominent in the night sky. This listaids the observer to find alignment stars at various times ofthe year. For example, if it is a midsummer evening in theNorthern Hemisphere, Deneb in the constellation Cygnus,is an excellent alignment star, while Betelgeuse is notbecause it is in the winter constellation Orion and thus,below the horizon.

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Season Star Name Constellation R.A. Dec

Spring Arcturus Bootes 14h16m 19° 11"Spring Regulus Leo 10h09m 11° 58"Spring Spica Virgo 13h25m -11° 10"

Summer Vega Lyra 18h37m 38° 47"Summer Deneb Cygnus 20h41m 45° 17"Summer Altair Aquila 19h51m 08° 52"Summer Antares Scorpius 16h30m -26° 26"

Fall Markab Pegasus 23h05m 15° 12"Fall Fomalhaut Pisces Austrinus 22h58m -29° 38"Fall Mira Cetus 02h19m -02° 58"

Winter Rigel Orion 05h15m -08° 12"Winter Betelgeuse Orion 05h55m 07° 25"Winter Sirius Canis Major 06h45m -16° 43"Winter Aldebaran Taurus 04h35m 16° 31"

MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY

Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“Meade”)to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A.and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defectivepart is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only and isnon-transferable. Meade products purchased outside North America are not included in this warranty, but are covered underseparate warranties issued by Meade international distributors.

RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number must beobtained from Meade by writing, or calling (946) 451-1450. Each returned part or product must include a written statementdetailing the nature of the claimed defect, as well as the owner’s name, address, and phone number.

This warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized repairs have beenattempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-and-tear. Meade specifically disclaimsspecial, indirect, or consequential damages or lost profit which may result from a breach of this warranty. Any implied warrantieswhich can not be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase.

This warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other rights which vary from state to state.

Meade reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without notice.

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A D V A N C E D P R O D U C T S D I V I S I O N

Meade Instruments CorporationWorld’s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical Telescopes for the Serious Amateur6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450FAX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www.meade.com © 2000

Instruction Manual - Meade Instruments

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