To Align For The First Time; Automatic Alignment - Meade RCX400 Instruction Manual

Important Note:
First time you align the
telescope, perform the
following procedures to insure
precision pointing:
1. Automatic Align
2. Drift Align
3. Collimation
4. OTA Align
(if non -RCX model)
5. Calibrate home.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the
Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.
Aligning for the First Time
If you wish to have precise pointing accuracy, the first time you align your telescope
you will need to align it to using Automatic Alignment and Drift Alignment. You will
then electronically collimate the telescope, square the OTA and finally calibrate home.
Once you do this. you will need only to park your scope and you will keep this
alignment. When you turn the telescope back on after parking, it will be very nearly
perfectly aligned from this point on.
To prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment:
1. Connect Autostar II to the HBX port of the RA Control Panel (or Dec Control
Panel).
2. Flip the power switch of the RA Control Panel to the ON position.
The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly.
3. "Press 0 to Align or Mode for Menu" displays. Press 0.
4. The telescope will seek the home position. Autostar II initializes the Smart Drive.
The R.A. and Dec. motors operate briefly and "Initializing: Smart Drive" displays.
5. "Automatic Alignment" displays. Press ENTER. The system now performs the fol-
lowing routines (press any Autostar II key to abort Automatic Alignment) :
Attempts a "GPS Fix." The
sync up with signals from GPS satellites.
After performing these operations, Autostar II now knows:
The telescope's limiting positions
The observing site's location
The date and time
6. "CTR Polaris: Slewing" displays. When the telescope stops slewing, center
Polaris in the eyepiece using only the latitude and azimuth adjust knobs
(see Fig. 41a). DO NOT USE THE HANDBOX TO CENTER POLARIS. When
Polaris is centered, press ENTER.
9. Autostar II then chooses another star to align upon. "Searching...." displays. The
telescope then slews to a bright star for alignment. If it does not appear in the field
of view in the eyepiece, look through the viewfinder—in most cases, the star will
be visible. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star is visible and
centered 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. Press
ENTER. "Align Successful" displays. If "Align Unsuccessful displays," repeat the
procedure.
Next, you will drift align the telescope.
Azimuth
Adjust
Knob
Fig. 41a: The latitude and azimuth adjust knobs.
's GPS receiver attempts to acquire and
RCX400
Latitude
Adjust
Knob
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