Aligning Smartfinder - Meade DS-2000-LNT Instruction Manual

Fig. 13: Connect Autostar to
the HBX port and
Smartfinder to AUX port.
NEVER
point the
telescope
directly at
or near the Sun at any
time! Observing the
Sun, even for the
smallest fraction of a
second, will result in
instant and irre-
versible eye damage,
as well as physical
damage to the tele-
scope itself.
Fig. 15: 25mm and
9mm eyepieces.
4. Press the Scroll Down key. "Finder: Blink On" displays.
5. Press ENTER. A time value, in seconds, displays. For example, "00.5" may
display. "00.5" is the amount of time, in seconds, that the red dot will blink "on."
(For this example, you may select or enter any value except "00.0.") Press
ENTER.
6. Press the Scroll Down key. "Finder: Blink Off" displays.
7. Press ENTER. Use the Number keys to enter "00.0" or press the Scroll Down
key until "00.0" displays. "00.0" is the amount of time in seconds that the
red dot will remain "off." This value, along with the value you chose in the
"Finder: Blink On" menu, allows the red dot to remain on without blinking.
"00.0" means there is no "off" time, so the dot will remain on continuously,
without blinking.
8. Use these menus to set other blink rates. For example, If you select "00.1" in
the Blink Off menu, and "00.2" in the Blink On menu, the red dot will blink on
for .2 seconds and then blink off for .1 second, and then repeat the cycle until
you change the values again.
9. Press and hold MODE to exit this function.

Aligning Smartfinder

Because the main telescope has a fairly narrow field of view, locating objects directly in the
main telescope can sometimes be difficult. Smartfinder (7, Fig. 1) projects a small red dot that
permits you to more easily locate objects. When Smartfinder and optical tube are aligned to
each other, both point to the same position
in the sky. An object located in the viewfind-
er is therefore in the eyepiece of the main
telescope.
To align Smartfinder:
It is recommended that you perform steps 1
through 4 of this procedure during the day-
time and step 5 at night.
1. Loosen the tripod base lock knob (26,
Fig. 1) and the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1),
so that the telescope can move freely.
2. If you have not already done so, place
a low-power (e.g., 25mm) eyepiece in
the diagonal prism of the main tele-
scope (3, Fig. 1) and point the tele-
scope at an easy-to-find land object
(e.g., the top of a telephone pole or
sign). Turn the focuser knob (1, Fig. 1)
to focus the image in the eyepiece.
Center the object precisely.
3. Re-tighten the tripod base lock knob (26,
Fig. 1) and the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1)
so that the telescope does not move
during the procedure.
4. Looking through Smartfinder. Turn the
Smartfinder's two alignment screws (8,
Fig. 1) until Smartfinder's red dot points
precisely at the same object as cen-
tered in the eyepiece. Smartfinder is
now aligned to the main telescope.
5. Check this alignment on a celestial
object, such as the Moon or a bright
star, and make any necessary refine-
ments.
DS-2000 TIPS
Too Much Power?
Can you ever have too much power? If you're
referring to eyepiece power (magnification),
yes, you can! The most common beginner's
mistake is to "overpower" a telescope by using
too high of a magnification, which the tele-
scope's aperture and atmospheric conditions
cannot reasonably support. Keep in mind that
a smaller, but bright and well-resolved image
is far superior to one that is larger, but dim and
poorly resolved (see below). Powers above
200X should be employed only under the
steadiest atmospheric conditions.
Autostar can calculate the best eyepiece for
you to use. Try out the "Eyepiece Calc" feature
in the Utilities menu.
Most observers should have three or four
additional eyepieces to achieve the full range
of reasonable magnifications possible with the
DS-2000 telescopes.
ACCESSORIES," page 29.
Fig. 14a & 14b: Jupiter; example of too much
magnification.
13
See "OPTIONAL