Easy Two-Star Alignment - Meade ETX-70AT Instruction Manual

IMPORTANT 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. For infor-
mation on equatorial
(Polar) alignment, see
"APPENDIX A," page
North
Declination
Pointer
at 0˚
Fig. 11: Alt/Az Alignment
.
Home Position
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 eye-
piece after the telescope
finishes it search. (This
sometimes occurs dur-
ing an alignment proce-
dure.) 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 eye-
piece and when the
object does become vis-
ible, press MODE to stop
the spiral search. Then
use the Arrow keys to
center the object.
14 Autostar Operation
To Calculate Sunset time:
1. Press the MODE key several times, until "Select Item: Object" is displayed.
2. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Event" option in the "Select Item" menu.
3. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event:
Sunrise" is displayed.
4. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu.
5. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level.
6. Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar
then displays the results of the calculation.
7. Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar levels. The first level up
is the Event menu.
8. Press MODE again to move up another level. This is the top level, "Select Item."
9. Press MODE again to return to the starting point of "Select Item: Object."

Easy Two-Star Alignment

The fastest and easiest way to start observing with Autostar is to use Easy Two-Star Alignment.
Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database for the Easy Two-Star Alignment pro-
cedure. During the Easy Alignment procedure, Autostar slews 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 cen-
ter the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the align-
ment.
NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that "INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,"
page 12, has been performed. See "MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR'S MENUS,"
page 12, for a description of how Autostar's keys operate.
Easy Two-Star Alignment Procedure:
1. Sun Warning - Press the Speed/? key to accept.
Getting Started - Press ENTER to continue, or the Speed/? key to access the Autostar
2.
Help tutorial. Press MODE to leave the tutorial at any time.
3. Enter Date - Enter the current date, then press ENTER.
4. Enter Time - Enter the current time. Select "AM," "PM," or 24-hour clock (blank). Then
press ENTER.
Daylight Savings - Select "Yes" or "No," then press ENTER.
5.
Alignment Option Screen - "Setup: Align" displays. Press ENTER.
6.
7. Select Alignment - "Align Easy" displays. Press ENTER.
8. Set Home Position - Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az
Alignment home position. To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position:
Loosen the telescope's vertical lock (6, Fig. 1).
•
Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec setting circle (17, Fig. 1) with the
•
pointer (Fig. 13).
• Tighten the vertical lock (6, Fig. 1) to a "firm feel" only.
• Unlock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points
North. Re-lock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1).
• Press ENTER. See "ALT/AZ HOME POSITION," page 21, for more information.
9 . Star Alignment - The Autostar then chooses two stars to align upon. When the telescope
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 recognized 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 sec-
ond 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.