Using The Lx200 In Altaz; Entering Basic Information; Location Of The Observing Site - Meade LX200 Instruction Manual

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2
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Fig. 5: Keypad Hand Controller. (1) Display); (2) Direction
Keys; (3) Speed Indicator LEDs; (4) Speed Selection Keys.
Motion Speeds
SLEW (7) = 8°/sec (8", 10"); 6°/sec (12")
FIND (4) = 2°/sec
CNTR (1) = 480 arcsec/sec
GUIDE (0) = 30 arcsec/sec
The LX200 can also be moved manually with the R.A. and Dec.
locks released, or as described above only. The Declination
manual slow-motion knob (1, Fig.4) is non-functional when
power is supplied to the telescope. When the power is "on",
only use the N, S, E, and W keys on the keypad hand controller.
Serious damage can occur to the internal gears of the motor
assembly if the Declination manual slow-motion knob is turned
even a slight amount by hand.
3. Using the LX200 In ALTAZ (Altazimuth )
The two quick start methods described above allow you to use
the telescope, but do not make use of any of the computer
features available, including finding objects from the Object
Library and automatic tracking of stars. In order for these
features to work, the telescope's power needs to be "on," and
the computer needs some basic information, which is entered
through the keypad. Once entered, the information is
permanently remembered by the telescope's computer and
need never be entered again, even if the telescope is turned
"on" and "off" many times.
This section will explain what keys to push to get the minimum
data required into the computer, without any detailed
explanation (see MODE FUNCTIONS, page 16, for detailed
instructions). The steps detailed here only take a few minutes
and allow you to begin making use of all the LX200 features.
a. Entering Basic Information
In order for the LX200 to make the conversions between the
stellar coordinate system (R.A. and Declination) and the
Altazimuth coordinate system (altitude and azimuth), it needs
to know three pieces of information. This information only
needs to be entered one time — the LX200 remembers data
even when the power is off. Note, however, that the time should
be checked and reset, if necessary, on each observing session.
b. Location of the Observing Site
NOTE: The SITE information cannot be entered if the telescope
is in LAND mode.
If the telescope is in LAND mode, the SITE menu option (Display
2) will appear in lower case letters (see Which Alignment
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Method to Use?, page 13). Follow steps 4 through 8 in Setting
Up the Telescope, page 11, to change the telescope's operation
to Altazimuth (ALTAZ) mode before proceeding.
You should find the position of your observing site to within 1 or
2 minutes of arc in both latitude and longitude. Many
automobile, pilot, and topographical maps, as well as most
atlases show latitude and longitude in 15 minute increments or
better. The accuracy of the LX200 will depend on how close
you get, so take a little time to get as accurate as you can.
Once the above information is determined, it can be entered
into the telescope. It is easiest to enter the data with the
telescope sitting on a table indoors—do not try to do it outside
at night.
Each step below is given without any details or explanations to
keep the process as simple and fast as possible. Next to each
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step will also be a sample of what the keypad hand controller
display (1, Fig. 6) should look like after each step.
As an example, we will enter the data for Irvine, CA (LAT =
33°35', LONG = 117°42'). If at any time you get "lost," simply
turn off the telescope and restart this procedure.
1. Turn the telescope power on. After a few seconds (after
the self-diagnostic test is complete), the display will look
like Display 1.
Display 1
2. Press the ENTER key. This selects the TELESCOPE
functions. The display should now look like Display 2.
Display 2
3. Press the ENTER key. This selects the SITE functions.
The display should look like Display 3.
Display 3
4. Press and Hold the ENTER key until the keypad hand
controller beeps. This selects the first site for editing. The
display should look like Display 4, with the first "A"
flashing.
Display 4
5. Press the ENTER key. The display should now look like
Display 5.
Display 5
6. Use the number keys to enter your latitude. The underline
designates the current cursor position. Mistakes can be
corrected by moving back (using the "E" and "W" keys). A
negative latitude can be entered by positioning the cursor
under the "+" and hitting the "NEXT" key (lower right-hand
key). When the latitude is correct, press ENTER. The
display will look like Display 6.
Display 6
7. Use the number keys to enter your Longitude as above.
When complete, the display will look like Display 7.
Display 7
¡TELESCOPE
OBJECT LIBRARY
¡1) SITE
2) ALIGN
¡1) A A A 
2) A A A
¡1) A A A

2) A A A
¡LAT = +00° 00'
LONG = 000° 00'
= +33° 35'
¡LAT
LONG = 000° 00'
¡LAT = +33° 35'
LONG = 117° 42'