Alternate Alt/Az Alignment Methods; Initialize Autostar Ii (For Alternate Alignments); Easy (Two-Star) Alignment; Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment - Meade LX200GPS Instruction Manual

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Important Note:
If you disable the automatic
alignment/GPS function and
then use the alternate align-
ments described in this sec-
tion, you will be prompted to
enter the Time, Date, and
Daylight Savings status.
North
Dec.
Setting
Circle
Fig. 19: Alt/Az Home Position.
Fig. 20: Dec. Setting Circle at 0°.
Alternate Alt/Az Alignments
If you would rather set up your telescope without using automatic alignment, Autostar
II offers alternative alignment methods for both alt/az and equatorial mounting. During
the One-Star and Two-Star alt/az alignment procedures, you will (unlike the Automatic
and Easy alignment procedures) manually place the telescope in the home position.
The procedures for equatorial (polar) alignment are discussed in
50; the three alternative alt/az alignment methods are discussed below.
Initialize Autostar II
First, you need to initialize Autostar II.
1. Tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks (12 and 17, Fig. 1) to a firm feel.
2. Verify that Autostar II is properly connected to your telescope. See
ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE
3. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.
The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed
by a short beep. Autostar II takes a few moments to start up the system.
4. A message then displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this mes-
sage, press the key prompted by Autostar II to signify that the message has been
read and understood.
6. Autostar II displays "Align: Automatic."
You are now ready to align your telescope using one of the three alt/az alignment pro-
cedures.

Easy (Two-Star) Alignment

In this method, Autostar II automatically picks two stars from its libraries for alignment.
During the procedure, Autostar II 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
prompted to center the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second
Level
star to complete the alignment.
Base
Note: Before performing this procedure, first verify that
AUTOSTAR II
How to perform the Easy Align Procedure
1.
Alignment Option Screen. Following initialization, "Align: Automatic" displays.
2.
Select Alignment. Press the Scroll keys until "Align: Easy" displays. Press
ENTER.
3.
Home Position. The telescope automatically sets the following positions: home,
level, North, and True North. You may turn off the sensors and manually set these
positions. See
4 . Star Alignment. Autostar II chooses two stars to align upon. The telescope slews
to the first star for alignment. Should the alignment star not appear in the field of
view in the eyepiece, it should be easily recognized: It will 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 the procedure for the second alignment star.
Note: See
tant tips concerning alignments stars and using your viewfinder.
When the procedure is performed correctly, "Alignment Successful" displays. If
Autostar II does not display this message, perform this procedure again. (Keep
pressing MODE until "Align: Easy" displays and repeat the procedure.)

Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment

Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar II provides a
library of bright stars and two stars from this library are chosen by the observer for
alignment. In this procedure, Autostar II does not automatically find home, level, or
North.
1.
Alignment Option Screen. "Align: Automatic" displays.
2.
Select Alignment. Press the Scroll keys until "Align: Two Star" displays. Press
ENTER.
, page 13.
, above, has been performed.
, page 30 for more information.
HOME SENSORS
WHICH ONE'S THE ALIGNMENT STAR
, page
APPENDIX A
HOW TO
INITIALIZE
, page 19, for some impor-
37

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