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5. using the Hand
controller
This section describes the basic hand controller procedures
needed to operate the TeleTrack mount. These procedures
are grouped into three categories: 1) directional movement,
2) astronomical tracking, and 3) "cruise" modes (see Figure
7). The directional movement section deals with simple move-
ment of the mount for browsing terrestrial or astronomical
targets. The astronomical tracking section discusses how to
set up the mount for tracking objects in the night sky as the
Earth rotates. The cruise modes section describes the pro-
cess of selecting up to 6 set positions and the various modes
of "cruising" between them.
Figure 7.
The TeleTrack Mount Hand Controller
The buttons of the TeleTrack hand controller will illuminate
when pressed to indicate operation. If a button combination
is entered, all the pressed buttons will illuminate to indicate a
successful operation entry. If there is any type of communica-
tion error between the hand controller and the TeleTrack, all
the LEDs will flash.
speed Buttons
The three buttons located near the top of the hand controller
("GUIDE", "SLOW", AND "FAST") are used to set the slewing
speed of the mount.
6
Directional Buttons
The directional buttons allow complete control of the mounted
optical instrument's position during slewing or tracking. The
"LEFT" and "RIGHT" directional buttons control movements
about the azimuth axis. The "UP" and "DOWN" directional but-
tons control movements about the altitude axis.
numerical Buttons
The speed and directional buttons are also numbered 1-6
(the "7" button is not used as a numerical button). These but-
tons are used to store user-defined positions in cruise mode,
which is discussed later in this manual.
cruise Buttons
The two buttons near the bottom of the hand controller ("SET"
and "GO") will move the mount to preselected targets, the
selection of which is discussed in the "Cruising Modes" sec-
tion of this manual.
Speed
Buttons
Directional
Buttons
Cruise Buttons
Hand Controller Cable
setting the latitude
In order to track celestial objects accurately, your TeleTrack
mount requires a simple procedure to set the geographical
latitude of your observing location. This procedure can be
performed indoors, before taking the TeleTrack out under the
night sky. To set your latitude for astronomical tracking, follow
these steps:
1. Determine the latitude of your observing location. You may
2. Power on the TeleTrack mount.
A. DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT (SLEWING)
Your TeleTrack mount can make sweeping motions across
land and sky, or minute adjustments to center your target.
The directional buttons on the hand controller control the
movement of the mount in two axes, altitude (up/down)
and azimuth (left/right).
The relative speed of directional movement can be con-
trolled using the three speed buttons near the top of the
hand controller. Each speed button sets the slewing rate
of the instrument based on multiples of sidereal rate (the
speed in which objects appear to migrate across the night
sky). The "GUIDE" button sets the slewing rate to 32x side-
real rate. The "SLOW" button sets the slewing rate to 64x
sidereal rate. The "FAST" button sets the slewing rate to
800x sidereal rate.
The button of the selected slew speed will illuminate once
it is pressed. Once you have selected your preferred slew-
ing speed, use the directional buttons to move the mount.
Note: Never slew a telescope when another person
is looking in the eyepiece. The mount can move at fast
slew speeds and may hit the observer in the eye.
B. ASTRONOMICAL TRACKING
In addition to being able to slew the telescope with the
hand controller's directional buttons, the TeleTrack mount
can also track a celestial object as it appears to move
across the night sky.
need to consult a geographical atlas to do this.
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