Meade ETX series AutoStar Instruction Manual page 28

Want to learn more about
adding and editing sites ?
See page 29.
Time Zone Shift
Atlantic -4 Hours
Eastern -5 Hours
Central -6 Hours
Mountain -7 Hours
Pacific -8 Hours
Alaska -9 Hours
Hawaii -10 Hours
Table 1: Time Zone Shift.
Calculations are for standard
time.
Note:
The Download function
requires the optional #505
Astrofinder Software and
Cable Connector Kit. See
the instruction sheet
included with the kit for
more information on how to
download. Also see
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
page 42.
28
Add: Scroll through the list of Countries/States. Press ENTER when the site you
wish to add displays. Then choose the desired city in the same manner. Choose
Zip Code to enter your zip code, if you wish. Choose "Custom" if you wish enter the
name of an observing site. In this method, you will enter its name, plus its longi-
tude and latitude. See the margin note on page 29 for more information.
Delete: Deletes a stored site from the database.
Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, latitude, longitude and time zone.
Time Zone refers to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone shift. Users
West of Greenwich, England use "-" hours, East of Greenwich use "+" hours. For
the United States, look up the time zone shift in table above.
Note: AutoStar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See
"Setup Menu: Daylight Saving," page 26.
Owner Info accesses the owner information menu, including:
Name: Users may enter both their first and last names using the Up and Down
Arrow keys to cycle through the alphabet. Use the Right and Left Arrow keys to
move through the text. Press ENTER when the entry is complete.
Address: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter your street address, city,
state and zip code. Press ENTER when the entry is complete.
Download transfers information from another AutoStar. During the operation, the
warning "Downloading Do Not Turn Off" appears.
Clone uploads information from one AutoStar handbox to another. Three options are
available:
Catalogs: Sends only user-defined object information, such as new satellite
,
orbits or comet data to another AutoStar handbox.
Software: Sends only the basic AutoStar software. This is useful if one user has
downloaded a new version of AutoStar software from the Meade website
(www.meade.com) and wants to pass this software along to friends.
All: Everything – user-defined information and AutoStar software – is sent to
another AutoStar.
Statistics provides basic statistical data about AutoStar, including:
Characters Free: Shows how much room is available in user-defined object
memory.
Version: Shows the current version of the AutoStar software.
Reset completely resets AutoStar. Most values entered into the menus revert to
factory defaults. AutoStar requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding
with observations. See
Join an Astronomy Club, Attend a Star Party
One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an astronomy
club. Check your local newspaper, school, library or telescope dealer/store to find out if
there's a club in your area.
At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy enthusiasts with whom you will be able
to share your discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way to learn more about observing the
sky, to find out where the best observing sites are and to compare notes about
telescopes, eyepieces, filters, tripods and so forth.
Often, club members are excellent astrophotographers. Not only will you be able to see
examples of their art, but you may even be able to pick up some "tricks of the trade" to
try out with your
with the
ETX
Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and
observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment.
Magazines such as Sky & Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular
Star Parties around the United States and Canada.
INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR
telescope. See page 40 for more information about photography
ETX
.
, page 19.
ETX TIPS