Bresser Vixen AXJ Equatorial Mount Instruction Manual
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Bresser Vixen AXJ Equatorial Mount Instruction Manual

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  • Page 1 Instruction Manual for AXJ Equatorial Mount...

  • Page 2: Preface

    PREFACE Thank you for your purchase of the Vixen AXJ equatorial mount. The AXJ equatorial mount is a high precision sturdy mount ideal for astrophotography. The cutting-edge STAR BOOK TEN Hand Controller feratures a high definision large color LCD screen with intuitive controls to help you enjoy your astronomical observation.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter 5 PREFACE ------------------------------------------------------------------- P 2 APPLICATION ------------------------------------------------------P53 TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------------------------------------------- P 3 I. How to Use the Polar Aligrment ----------------------------------P53 BEFORE USE --------------------------------------------------------------- P 4 Basic Operation ------------------------------------P54 Polar Alignment ------------------------------------P55 Checking the Package Contents ----------------------------------------------- P 4 About PF-L Assist App ----------------------------P66 AXJ Mount Components -------------------------------------------------------- P 5 Precise Polar Alignment ---------------------------P67...

  • Page 4: Before Use

    BEFORE USE Checking the Package Contents The AXJ Equatorial mount package contains the items listed below. Check if all the items are included. Package Consisting of : 3.5kg 3.5kg ① AXJ Equatorial Mount ① ② AXD Counterweights 3.5kg and 1.5kg ③...

  • Page 5: Axj Mount Components

    BEFORE USE AXJ Mount Components DEC. Clamp lever Declination Axis Mount Head R.A. Axis(Polar Axis) [Optical Tube Attachment Base] R.A. Clamp Lever Polar Axis Front Cap [AXJ Mount] Polar Axis Rear Cap (Polar Scope Cover) Motor Housing Counterweight Bar Lock Lever Polar Alignment PF-L II Scope [Built-In] Counterweight Bar...
  • Page 6 BEFORE USE The specifications are subject to change without notice AXJ Mount Specifications Mount AXJ Equatorial Mount R.A Slow Motion Wheel 225-tooth full circle micro-movement gear, 114.5mm in diameter, Brass DEC. Slow Motion Wheel 192-tooth full circle micro-movement gear, 98mm in diameter, Brass Worm Gear Shafts 15.5mm in diameter, Brass R.A.

  • Page 7: Star Book Ten Components

    BEFORE USE STAR BOOK-TEN Components ① ③ ② ④ ⑤ ⑦ ⑧ ⑥ ⑨ STAR BOOK TEN Bottom View Color LCD Screen Numerical / Command Keys ① ⑤ Displays star charts and information about celestial object and the status of the Allows you to enter a number or a command indicated on the keys.
  • Page 8 BEFORE USE Screen Menus and Instructions ① ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ② ③ ⑰ ⑨ ⑧ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑱ ⑲ Item Description Display Mode ① SCOPE MODE: The telescope is linked with the star chart. The telescope follows in the same direction as the star chart is scrolled.

  • Page 9: Flow Of Operation

    BEFORE USE Flow of Operation Take the following steps to set up and use the AXJ equatorial mount series correctly. P10-19 Preparation ① • Set up the tripod on a level ground. • Balancing the mount. Initial Setting ② P20-23 •...

  • Page 10: About The Internal Battery Of Star Book Ten

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION About the Internal Battery of STAR BOOK TEN The STAR BOOK TEN controller has a built-in clock, which runs on a CR2032 battery. As the battery is not inserted in the STAR BOOK TEN at Vixen‘s factory before shipment insert it when you use the STAR BOOK TEN for the first time. The provided battery is for factory inspection and not designed for long term use.

  • Page 11: Assembling The Mount

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION Assembling the Mount Refer to each instruction manual of your telescope and accessory together with this manual when you attach them to the mount. You may find something that are not included if your purchased product is the mount only. Take care not to drop heavy parts when assembling as it could cause damage the unit or lead to injury.

  • Page 12: Setting Up The Mount

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION II . Setting up the Mount CAUTION: Be sure to handle the equatorial mount carefully as it is a very heavy item. Attaching to the SXG Tripod without the Half Pillar Attaching to the SXG Half Pillar Loosen the azimuth adjustment screws in advance by turning the Put the mount on the tripod head so that the front side of the mount azimuth adjustment knobs on the mount.

  • Page 13: Attaching The Counterweight

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION III . Attaching the Counterweight You may balance the AXJ mount with the counterweight bar only without a counterweight if you put a counterpart as little as 2.0kg (4.4 lb.) in weight approximately. CAUTION: Be sure to handle the counterweight carefully as it is a very heavy item. The counterweight bar is in the declination body.

  • Page 14: Attaching A Saddle Plate

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION IV .Attaching a Saddle Plate or a Dovetail-plate Mounting Block There are different sizes of threaded screw holes on the mount head of the AXJ mount as shown in the drawing below. Choose the screw holes that are appropriate to your saddle plate that holds the telescope tube.

  • Page 15: Attaching The Optical Tube

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION V . Attaching the Optical Tube CAUTION: CAUTION: Take care not to drop the optical tube assembly as it could seriously damage the equipment or lead to injury. Make sure that the slide bar or dovetail tube plate is flat against the saddle plate. Tightening the lock screws with a gap between these parts may cause the telescope unexpected falling off.

  • Page 16: Balancing The Mount In Declination

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION VI . Balancing the Mount in Declination Telescope Tube with Dovetail Slide Bar Loosen the R.A. clamp lever while holding the counterweight bar (1-1) and turn the telescope tube until the DEC. axis comes to horizontal (1-2). Tighten the R.A. clamp lever and loosen the DEC.

  • Page 17: Balancing The Mount In Right Ascension (R.a.)

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION VII. Balancing the Mount in Right Ascension (R.A.) Loosen the R.A. clamp lever while holding the counterweight bar and turn the telescope tube until the DEC axis comes to horizontal as shown in the figure. Release the telescope tube gradually to see which way the telescope rotates around the R.A. axis. If the telescope tube starts moving by its own weight as you release, it shows there is an imbalance in the R.A.
  • Page 18 Chapter 1 PREPERATION Tips on Proper Balancing With balance arrangements below, the AXJ mount can balance a counterpart weighing stated below on condition that the center of gravity of the counter- part is given at a distance of 25cm from the intersection of the R. A. and DEC axes. The less the distance of the counterpart from the intersection, the more the allowable loading weight of the counterpart.

  • Page 19: Connecting The Star Book Cable

    Chapter 1 PREPERATION VI . Connecting the STAR BOOK Cable Connecting to the Mount Plug one end of the STAR BOOK cable into the connecting port on the mount for the controller cable. Controller Connecting Port Secure the connector with the setscrews. Setscrews Connecting to the STAR BOOK TEN Plug the other end of the STAR BOOK cable into the connecting port on the STAR BOOK TEN for...

  • Page 20: Initial Setting

    Chapter 2 INITIAL SETTING Basic functions of the mount are described in this chapter. For advanced functions refer to Chapter 5 “Application”. I. Turning ON the Power The power switch is located on the bottom of the declination body of the mount. To turn on the power press the side marked I on the switch and to turn off the power, press the O marked side on the switch.

  • Page 21: Setting Local Time

    Chapter 2 INITIAL SETTING III. Setting Local Time This setting is required the first time you use the STAR BOOK TEN or when the internal battery has been changed. You can enter date and local time of your area using 24 hours clock, i.e. 3pm is 1500. It does not offset daylight saving time. (The last entered date and time information will be stored and displayed.) Choose „Local Time Setting“...

  • Page 22: Clock Adjust

    Chapter 2 INITIAL SETTING Clock Adjust This is to re-adjust advance or delay of the built-in clock of the STAR BOOK TEN. Choose “Clock Adjust” in the local time setting dialog box with key and press the key (or key) to access the Clock Adjust.
  • Page 23 Chapter 2 INITIAL SETTING Setting, Changing or Deleting the Location Information To use your observing location, move the cursor to „Location“ in the „Initial Configuration“ menu with the key and press the ) key to access the location entry dialog box. Choose the observing location you want to use from the location information with the key and press the key.

  • Page 24: Basic Operation

    Chapter 3 BASIC OPERATION Moving the Telescope Make sure that the R.A and DEC clamp levers on the AXJ mount are locked tightly. Advance the “Initial Configuration” screen in the following procedure to display the telescope‘s home position setting screen. DEC clamp Choose OK with the key in “Initial Configuration”...

  • Page 25: Automatic Go-To Slewing

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Automatic Go-To Slewing The moon and bright planets are found readily in the night sky as you can locate their positions with ease. However, less bright planets, nebulae and star clusters are dim and mostly invisible with the unaided eye. Even if you know where these dim and blurred objects are in the night sky, it often takes time and effort to look for them.

  • Page 26: Locating The Axj Mount

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING I. Locating the AXJ Mount After setting up the telescope, locate the AXJ mount so that its R.A. axis points toward the north celestial pole if you use the telescope in the northern hemisphere. If your intention is not to take lengthy astrophotography, you don’t need to align the R.A. axis to the celestial pole precisely. A rough setting will work well for visual observation.

  • Page 27: Alignment

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING III. Alignment After determining the home position of your telescope, press the key to display the interactive dialog box on the screen. The dialog box asks you if you enter SCOPE MODE. Choose OK with the key and press the key.
  • Page 28 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Select a star from an alignment stars list in the object database. Be sure to select alignment stars for which you recognize locations in the night sky. Aldebaran in Taurus, the Bull is shown here as an example of the first alignment star.
  • Page 29 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Your first Go-To slewing may not bring the alignment star in the main telescope‘s field of view but should appear in the finder scope. Here, center Aldebaran in the telescope‘s field of view as an example with the following procedure.
  • Page 30 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Slewing the Telescope to an Object near the Sun or to the Sun If you try slewing to an object near the Sun or to the Sun, the STAR BOOK TEN will alert you with a dialog box: “Warning! Target is close to the Sun.”...
  • Page 31 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Tips on Star Alignment • It is advisable to use fixed stars for the alignments. As the distant stars are a fixed point of light and they have no area, you can pinpoint a location for an alignment point.

  • Page 32: Slewing To An Object In Scope Mode

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING IV. Slewing to an Object in SCOPE MODE Once the star alignment is completed in Section III, choose a celestial object to which you want to slew. You can look for objects like nebulae and star clusters on the star charts of the STAR BOOK TEN to choose what you want to observe.

  • Page 33: Slewing To An Object In Chart Mode

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING V. Slewing to an Object in CHART MODE The Go-To slewing in CHART MODE works in the same way as you did in SCOPE MODE. Additionally, scrolling the star chart allows you to select any object as a target and automatically slew your telescope to it.
  • Page 34 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING The The Go-To slewing finishes with ringing the chimes. Pressing the key will start slewing the telescope to the target. When you call up M42 from “Object Menu” in CHART MODE, the interactive dialog appears on the screen.

  • Page 35: Slewing With Command Keys

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING VI. Slewing to an Object with Command Keys The STAR BOOK TEN has command keys to allow direct access to each list of celestial objects in the database. This choice displays a list of planets in the solar system (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and a dwarf-planet Pluto) as well as the sun and moon.
  • Page 36 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING The following is an example on how to slew to NGC224 (M31, the Andromeda galaxy) with the command key. Press the key to access the lists of objects in the NGC or IC catalog. Pressing the key will switch the catalogs.

  • Page 37: Moon Map

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Moon Map The “Moon Map “dialog box appears on the screen if you press the key a little longer. The telescope can be pointed at the major "seas" and geographical formations on the surface of the moon. Note: •...
  • Page 38 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Choose "Moon" with the or direction key and press the (or the ) key. The "Moon Map" dialog box appears and choose "Moon Map" with the direction keys and press the (or the ) key. If you are in SCO- PE MODE, the "GOTO Message"...
  • Page 39 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Descriptions of the Moon Map Screens Screen 1: Changing the Size and Orientation of the Moon Map Item Description ① Mirror-reversed left and right ② Mirror-revered upside-down ① ③ Rotate upside-down (180 degrees) ② ④ Rotate counterclockwise ③...
  • Page 40 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Zooming In, Zooming Out and Scrolling the Moon Map (Refer to Screen 1) Confirm that the moon map is in the frame mode. If not, press the key to switch to the frame mode. The zoom keys enlarge or reduce the size of the moon map as you press either the up or down key.
  • Page 41 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Inverted (180-degree rotated) Moon Map The moon map can be switched from/to the inverted image to/from the ordinary image orientation with press of the key. The inverted image symbol on the bar information of the moon map is highlighted in green if you choose this option. It functions along with the mirror-reversed image and rotating functions.
  • Page 42 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING In CHART MODE, select a place you want to view on the moon map by scrolling and zooming with the direction keys and zoom keys. Copernicus crater is a target here by way of example. The list of location names on the moon map tracks the terrain as you move the moon map.
  • Page 43 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING INDEX Seas, Ocean, Bays, Lakes and Marsh Craters Mare Australe (Southern Sea) Albategnius Geminus Posidonius Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) Alphonsus Goclenius Ptolemaeus Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility) Archimedes Goldschmidt Purbach Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) Aristarchus Grimaldi Pythagoras...

  • Page 44: Recently Located Objects

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING This displays all of the celestial objects in the database. Press the key to call up “Object Menu” which includes each list of Messier objects, NGC/IC objects, planets, the sun, the moon, constellations, fixed stars and more. Select the list using the key and press ) key.

  • Page 45: Constellation

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Constellation This identifies locations of all 88 constellations. Additionally, it allows you to slew to any stars labeled with a Bayer designation (the letters of Greek alphabet) in the constellation. Call up “Object Menu” and choose “Constellation” with the direction key.

  • Page 46: Coordinates

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Calling up Bayer Designation Directly The list of the Bayer designation appears on the screen if you press the key a little longer Press a little longer Choose a Bayer designation in the entry dialog box with the direction key.

  • Page 47: Comet

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Comet This allows slewing to comets. The orbital elements of the comet McNaught (2009 R1) are shown as an example. Entering the Orbital Elements of the Comet STAR BOOK TEN allows you to enter orbital elements of up to 10 comets for Go-To slewing. You can access the orbital elements of comets from commercially available astronomy magazines, internet websites and so forth.
  • Page 48 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Setting, Changing or Deleting the Orbital Elements of the Comet OK: Choose OK to slew the telescope to the comet you chose. Press the key to start the Go-To slewing. To stop, shift the cursor to Cancel with the •...

  • Page 49: Satellite (Artifical Satellite)

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Satellite (Artificial Satellite) This allows observing a satellite pass. Entering the Orbital Elements of the Satellite STAR BOOK TEN allows you to enter orbital elements of up to 10 satellites for Go-To slewing. You can access the orbital elements of satellites from commercially available astronomy magazines and internet websites.
  • Page 50 Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Press the key to complete the entry. Then, press the key again to leave this menu. If a wrong number is entered, the item for the entry will be highlighted in red to alert you. Setting, Changing or Deleting the Orbital Elements of the Satellite OK: Choose OK to slew the telescope to the satellite you chose.

  • Page 51: User Coordinates

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING User Coordinates STAR BOOK TEN allows you to add 10 new objects to the database by using celestial coordinates. It is possible to define and store terrestrial objects with altitude and azimuth for terrestrial objects. The tracking will be off if you choose an object in the altitude and azimuth setting.

  • Page 52: Home Position

    Chapter 4 AUTOMATIC GOTO SLEWING Change Data: Choose “Change Data” to rewrite the set points. To change the set point, display the entry dialog box and choose “Change Data” with the direction key. Then, press the key. Delete: Choose “Delete” to clear the orbital elements. To delete the set point, display the entry dialog box and choose “Delete”...
  • Page 53 Chapter 5 APPLICATION I. How to Use the Polar Alignment Scope What is a Polar Alignment Scope? Components Guide The polar alignment scope is a small telescope that is installed parallel to the R.A. axis of an equatorial mount so that the polar Alignment scope can precisely point to the north (or south) celestial pole.

  • Page 54: Basic Operation

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Basic Operation Adjusting the Brightness Illumination ON and OFF There is a push switch on the top of the brightness adjustment dial of The brightness of the red light for the polar alignment reticle can be the polar alignment scope. Pushing the switch will illuminate the varied in 8 steps by turning the brightness adjustment dial of the polar alignment reticle in red light.

  • Page 55: Polar Alignment

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION APPLICATION　　 Polar Alignment in the Northern Hemisphere The polar axis of the AXJ mount is aligned to the North Celestial Pole in the northern hemisphere. The polar axis scope utilizes 3 stars of Polaris, Delta UMi and 51 Cep near the North Pole. Positions of the above stars are plotted on the the polar alignment reticle. To locate the N.C.P, you simply match the scale position on the reticle with the designated 3 stars seen in the polar axis scope.
  • Page 56 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Turn on the power switch of the mount and advance the initial settings until the telescope’s home position screen appears on the screen of the STAR BOOK TEN. While looking into the round transparent window for the polar alignment scope, on the declina- tion body turn the declination body with the direction key so that the polar alignment scope can be seen in the window.
  • Page 57 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Big Dipper Field of view of the polar alignment scope. Real field of view (in the northern sky) Cassiopeia The real stars of the Big Dipper (or Cassiopeia) are not visible in the field of view of the polar alignment scope.
  • Page 58 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Turn the azimuth adjustment knobs so that Polaris comes as close as possible to the designated position on the reticle. Unfastening one side of the azimuth adjustment knob will allow fastening the knob on the other side to change the azimuth direction. A zi mut h A d just m ent K no bs Turn the altitude adjustment handles so that Polaris comes as close as possible to the designated position on the reticle.
  • Page 59 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Polaris is out of place from the designated position. This is part of the process. Center of the polar alignment scope’s field of view (Center of the rotational axis of the equatorial mount) Celestial north Celestial north Turn the polar alignment scope body so that Delta UMi comes near Since there is no mark that points at the North Celestial Pole, you to the location of the year 2014 on the scale.
  • Page 60 Chapter 5 APPLICATION While looking into the eyepiece of the polar C el e s t i al no r t h Ce le st ia l nort h alignment scope, turn the altitude adjustment handles and a zimuth adjustment knobs so that Polaris comes to the gap between the two segments of the lines marked 2014 and 2040.
  • Page 61 Chapter 5 APPLICATION APPLICATION Polar Alignment in the Southern Hemisphere The polar axis of the AXJ mount is aligned to the South Celestial Pole in the southern hemisphere. The polar alignment scope contains a reticle showing the relative positions of four stars near the S.C.P. These stars are Sigma, Tau and Chi of Octans. Positions of the above stars are plotted on the the polar alignment reticle with the precessions are considered.
  • Page 62 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Note: Octans is a constellation located near the south celestial pole and it can be used to align the equatorial mount telescopes in the southern hemisphere. Unlike Polaris which is a bright 2nd magnitude star adjacent to the north celestial pole, Octans is made up of dark stars about 5th magnitude on average.
  • Page 63 Chapter 5 APPLICATION While looking into the eyepiece of the polar alignment scope, adjust the direction of the mount by turning the altitude adjustment handles and azimuth adjustment knobs alternatively so that Sigma Octantis comes as close as possible to the designated position on the reticle.
  • Page 64 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Sigma Octantis is out of place from the designated position. This is part of the process. Celestial south Celestial south Center of polar the alignment scope´s field of view (Center of the rotational axis of the equatorial mount) Since there is no mark that points at the South Celestial Pole, Turn the polar scope body so that Tau Octantis comes near you need to match the polar axis of your AXJ mount with the...
  • Page 65 Chapter 5 APPLICATION While looking into the eyepiece of the polar axis scope, turn the altitude adjustment handles and azimuth adjustment knobs so that Sigma Octantis comes to the gap bet- ween the two segments of the lines marked 2014 and 2040. Set Sigma Octantis to an approximate position that is corresponding to the year of your obser- Al ti t ud e a d just m ent hand les...

  • Page 66: About Pf-L Assist App

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Tips on finding the constellation Octans. There are a few methods to locate Inconspicuous Octans using the surrounding stars and constellations. α O ctan ts γ β β γ γ Ci rcinus Hydrus S.C.P β α γ Mu sca Ch amael eo n δ...

  • Page 67: Precise Polar Alignment

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Precise Polar Alignment (Drift Alignment) If you align the mount with the provided polar alignment scope correctly, the mount will be able maintain tracking celestial objects within the field of view of your telescope‘s eyepiece. For astrophotography, it enables you to take exposures of 5 to 10 minutes with a telephoto lens of 200mm focal length or less.
  • Page 68 Chapter 5 APPLICATION lign the Mount in the direction of Altitude. 　 Choose a bright star near celestial equator in east but not too low, and put it in the filed of view of the eyepiece. Turn off the power switch of the mount momentarily while looking into the eyepiece to see in which direction the star moves.
  • Page 69 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Drift Alignment in the Southern Hemisphere Align the mount to the south celestial pole by using the polar alignment scope. It will save you a lot of time in the process of drift alignment. Align the Mount in the direction of Azimuth Prepare an eyepiece with cross hairs reticle (illuminated).

  • Page 70: Change The Initial Altitude Setting To Low Or Hight

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Change the initial Altitude Setting to Low or High The AXJ mount is set for use in the middle latitude zone (latitude of 35 Confirm that the degrees plus/minus 15 degrees) at Vixen’s factory. If your observing site screw hole on the is lower or higher than the range of the middle latitude zone, you need to R.A.

  • Page 71: Initial Configuration

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION II. INITIAL CONFIGURATION (Main screen right after turning ON the power) This allows you to choose the settings for various functions including time and location. Use Last Mount Setting This allows you to continue using the AXJ mount with the same settings you used during your last observing session. If you choose this option, the STAR BOOK TEN retains its alignment data while the mount is powered off.

  • Page 72: Night Vision

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Night Vision To maintain your night vision, avoid white light. The “Night Vision” mode turns the screen from the bright “white color” to gentle “red color”. You can use it together with the “LCD Adjust” for the best accommodation to your eyes. The setting is defaulted to „OFF“.

  • Page 73: Volume

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Volume The volume of the chimes can be adjusted from 0 to 20, i.e. “off to the loudest” divided by 20 steps. The setting is defaulted to „15“. In the “Initial Configuration” menu, choose “Volume” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the dialog box.

  • Page 74: Language

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Language Language is available in Japanese, English, Germany, Italian, Spanish and French on the STAR BOOK TEN as of October 2017. The setting is defaulted to „Japanese“. In the “Initial Configuration” menu, choose Language” with the direction key and press key (or the key) to call up the dialog box.

  • Page 75: About Starbook Ten

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION About StarBook TEN This allows you to access the program version, IP address and MAC address of your STAR BOOK TEN controller. This information is required for pro- gram updates and downloads from a PC through a local area network. In the “Initial Configuration”...

  • Page 76: System Menu (Main Menu)

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION III. System Menu (Main Menu) Choose the settings for various functions to suite your preference. Press the key to call up “System Menu”. Chart Setting This menu allows various display settings on the star charts. In “System Menu”, choose “Chart Setting” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the...

  • Page 77: Constellation

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Constellation This allows you to choose your preference for the display of the constellations from the following options. OFF: Neither constellation lines, names nor its aberrations are displayed. Const. Line: Only constellation lines are displayed. Const. Name: Only constellation names are displayed. Const.

  • Page 78: Display Of Star

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Display of Star This allows you to limit the number of fixed stars displayed on the star chart by magnitude at the widest chart so that you can prevent the screen from being full of luminous stars. Brighter than Mag.8 : Fixed stars of 8th magnitude and brighter are displayed.
  • Page 79 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Star Proper Name This allows you to limit the name of fixed stars displayed on the star chart by magnitude at the widest chart. Also,” Always ON” or “Always OFF” is available. Always ON : Names are always indicated. Brighter than Mag.5 : Names of fixed stars of 5th magnitude and brighter are displayed.

  • Page 80: Bayer Designation

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Bayer Designation This allows you to limit Bayer designation of fixed stars displayed on the star chart by magnitude at the widest chart. Also,” Always ON” or “Always OFF” is available. Always ON: Bayer designation of fixed stars is always indicated. Brighter than Mag.5: Bayer designation of fixed stars of 5th magnitude and brighter are displayed.

  • Page 81: Sun, Moon, Planet

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Sun • Moon • Planet This allows you to choose your preference for the display of the name of the Sun, Moon and planets from the following options. It is not possible to hide the Sun, Moon and planets themselves. ON : The names of the Sun, Moon and planets are displayed.

  • Page 82: Satellite

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Satellite This allows you to choose your preference for the display of Satellites from the following options. ON : Satellite is displayed. OFF : Satellite is hidden. The setting is defaulted to „ON“ In the “Chart Setting” menu, choose “Satellite” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the...

  • Page 83: Center Circle

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Center Circle This allows you to choose your preference for the display of comets from the following options. ON : Target circles are displayed. OFF : Target circles are hidden. The setting is defaulted to „ON“ In the “Chart Setting” menu, choose “Center Circle” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the...
  • Page 84 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Catalogue (Messier or NGC or IC) This allows you to choose the use of the catalogues of Messier, NGC and IC objects. All the deep sky objects from the catalogue will not appear on the star chart if it is set to OFF. Note: Your target object designated is displayed even If you set this function to OFF.

  • Page 85: Mount Setting

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Mount Setting This menu allows various settings on your AXJ mount to suit your preference. Press the key to call up System Menu dialog box. In System Menu, choose “Mount Setting” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the “Mount Setting”...

  • Page 86: Auto Guider

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION AutoGuide The STAR BOOK TEN can be used for auto guiding in conjunction with a CCD video camera installed on a guide scope and a built-in autoguider (sold separately) as an expansion unit for the STAR BOOK TEN. An external autoguider which is compatible with the ST series autoguiders from SBIG is available also.

  • Page 87: Pec (Periodic Error Corrction)

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION PEC (Periodic Error Correction) Equatorial mounts with drive motors are designed to precisely track the motion of celestial objects. With the use of a telescope mounted on the equatorial mount, you may notice that stars in the field of view of the telescope at high magnification are drifting back and forth very slowly over a period of time (e.g.
  • Page 88 Chapter 5 APPLICATION A cycle of the PEC recording ends with another chime as soon as the 384 seconds has elapsed, but the duration of the recording continues until you stop it. The PEC recording is renewed in each cycle. Note: You can complete the PEC recording per cycle and it must be started from a defined starting point.
  • Page 89 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Stopping Playback of the PEC In the “Mount Setting” menu, choose “PEC” with the direction key and press the key to call up the dialog box. In the “PEC” dialog box, choose “Play Stop” with the direction key and press the key (or the key).

  • Page 90: Backlash Compensation

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Backlash Compensation Backlash is a momentary stoppage of the tracking motion of the mount that occurs when the motor gears reverse their rotation. Backlash does not occur while the mount moves at a constant speed as the gears keep contact with each other. Backlash may occur when the telescope is moved with the direction keys manually.
  • Page 91 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Setting the Backlash The values for the backlash compensation are available between “0” and “99” both in R.A and DEC. In the “Mount Setting” menu, choose “Backlash Compensation” with the direction key and press the key to call up the dialog box. In the “Backlash Compensation”...

  • Page 92: Goto Speed

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION GOTO Speed The maximum speed of automatic Go-To slewing can be chosen from the following 5 levels. 5 High : 800x (about 800 times of sidereal rate) : 600x (about 600 times of sidereal rate) : 400x (about 400 times of sidereal rate) : 200x (about 200 times of sidereal rate) : 100x (about 100 times of sidereal rate) 1 Low...

  • Page 93: Motor Power

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Motor Power This allows for the changing electricity consumption of the mount as the need arises. When electricity consumption is set to “3”, the mount will easily accomplish tracking and Go-To slewing of your telescope and equipment up to 12 kgs (26.4 lbs). The smaller the value is set, the lower the electricity consumption is used, but it may cause a failure in tracking or Go-To slewing due to a drop of the motor torques.

  • Page 94: Mount Type

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Mount Type This allows choosing a mount type either “Equatorial with Polar Setting” or “Equatorial without Polar Setting”. The setting is defaulted to „Equatorial without Polar Setting“ In the “Mount Setting” menu, choose “Mount Type" with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the...

  • Page 95: Cross Over Meridian

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Cross Over Meridian If your object of observation with the AXJ mount is located on the east side of the meridian, the gravity of center of your telescope would be on the west side of the R.A. axis of the mount. As the mount turns at sidereal rate tracking the object which moves toward the culmination, the optical tube approaches a place lower than the R.A.
  • Page 96 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Warning for Telescope Reverse This allows setting a point of the warning message to warn you against turning of the optical tube to the opposite position. The alarm sounds at the same time the warning message is indicated. The timing of the warning message can be designated by angle and it can be set to recall repeatedly with an interval of every one degree and more until the mount stops.

  • Page 97: Delete Align Point Data

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Delete Align Point Data This allows calling up and deleting your alignment points from a list in the database. You cannot retrieve the deleted alignment point. This will not function if there is no alignment point. Keep pressing the key until the dialog box appears (or press the key to access Mount Setting).

  • Page 98: System Setting

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION System Setting You can choose the settings for various functions to suite your preference. Press the to call up “System Menu”. In “System Menu”, choose “System Setting” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the dialog box. Note: Most of menus in “System Setting”...

  • Page 99: Goto Message

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Key LED Brightness In the “System Setting” menu, choose “Key LED Brightness” with the direction key and press key (or the key) to call up the dialog box. Refer to page 72”. Atmospheric Refraction In the “System Setting” menu, choose “Atmospheric Refraction” with the direction key and press the key (or the...

  • Page 100: Language

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Language In the “System Setting” menu, choose “Language” with the direction key and press the key (or the key) to call up the dialog box. Refer to the Chaptor 2 “Initial Setting”. Initialize Memory Data In the “System Setting” menu, choose “Initialize Memory Data” with the direction key and press the key (or the...

  • Page 101: Mount Information

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION Mount Information This displays information on the number of the teeth on the wheel gear, gear reduction ratio and the number of encoder pulses per rotation of the worm gear. Mount Type: AXJ X = -225 x 4 (Number of the R.A. wheel gear teeth x Reduction ratio) Y = 192 x 4 (Number of the Declination wheel gear teeth x Reduction ratio) Encoder: 2000 pulses In “System Menu”, choose “Mount Information”...

  • Page 102: Using As A Stand-Alone Unit

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION IV. Using as a Stand-alone Unit The STAR BOOK TEN has a power connection port of DC 12V input which allows you to use the STAR BOOK TEN as a stand-alone unit. This is convenient for setting location, updating Power Cord firmware, entering orbital elements of comet from a PC and as a star map.

  • Page 103: Updating Your Star Book Ten

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION V. Updating your STAR BOOK TEN Download the program file of updates from Vixen‘s website to your PC. Connect the STAR BOOK TEN and the PC directly with the LAN cable. CAUTION CAUTION * Use the AC adapter 12V 3-A or the same power source you use for the AXJ mount. * Make sure that the PC is used under a stable power supply for transmission of data.
  • Page 104 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Click “Update Program” in the dialog box to continue. Updating will advance in the following procedure. Open the holder that contains the downloaded Select the program file and click it to open. Click on Submit Query button for sending the program file for updating.

  • Page 105: Entering Orbital Elements And User Defined Objects

    Chapter 5 APPLICATION VI. Entering Orbital Elements and User Defined Objects The STAR BOOK TEN allows you to store orbital elements of comets and artificial satellites as well as user defined objects up to 10 of each for tracking and Go-To slewing. You need to prepare orbital elements for this purpose. Procedure Directly connect the STAR BOOK TEN and a PC with the LAN cable.
  • Page 106 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Click “User Data Table” in the dialog box to continue. Clicking a number of an available space for an object (for comet, artificial satellite and user defined object) will display an entry dialog box. Availa- ble space for a name is a total 14 of single-space characters.
  • Page 107 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Alternatively, you can make a list of the orbital elements and send it to the STAR BOOK TEN. You need to prepare the list in text file format for this purpose. Read page 108 on how to make it. Note: Previous data in the same line numbers will be overwritten by the new information.
  • Page 108 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Data Transmission Forms Apply the following structure to create a list of the orbital elements. Send it to the STAR BOOK TEN by text file. Form of Orbital Elements for Comet STARBOOKCOMETFILE Line number, Name of comet, Time of periapsis passage (T) (YY/MM/DD/TT), Argument of periapsis(ω), Longitude of the ascending node (Ω), Inclination (i), Minimum distance from periapsis (q), Eccentricity (e).
  • Page 109 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Form of User Defined Object Choose from the following two types of formats according to coordinates you use. RA.DEC STARBOOKCOORDFILE Line number, Name of Object, Type of coordinates, RA in hour, RA in minute, RA in second, DEC in degree, DEC in arc minute ALT.AZ STARBOOKCOORDFILE Line number, Name of point, Types of coordinates, Azimuth in degree, Azimuth in arc minute, Altitude in +/- degree, Altitude in arc minute.
  • Page 110 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Saving and Reading out Data with use of a PC It allows you to transfer various setting data, PEC data and orbital elements data between your STAR BOOK TEN and a PC with a LAN crossover cable connection. Procedure How to Save Setting Data/PEC Data to a File on a PC You can transfer your setting data and PEC data on the STAR BOOK TEN...
  • Page 111 Chapter 5 APPLICATION How to Read out Setting Data / PEC Data on a PC The file path is red, and the screen returns to the previous window. You can transfer setting data and PEC data on the PC to your STAR BOOK TEN.
  • Page 112 Chapter 5 APPLICATION Saving Orbital Elements Data with use of a PC Click on “User Data Table” on the window. When you read out orbital elements data from a PC, use data transmission forms described in the instruction manual for the equatorial mount with the STAR BOOK TEN.
  • Page 113 APPENDIX Connectors on the STAR BOOK TEN 12V Power Connecting Port (DC 12V EIAJ RC5320A Class4) Center positive polarity 154mm Expansion Slot Cover Controller Cable Connecting Port (D-sub 9pin male) LAN Connecting Port (10BASE-T) External Autoguider Connecting Port Ra - Dec - Dec+ A.G.

  • Page 114: Dimensions Of The Axj Mount

    APPENDIX Dimensions of the AXJ Mount 420 mm 138mm 128mm F ulcrum Fulcrum (The intersection of the R.A. and DEC axes) 128mm 4 4.8mm 138mm Screw Holes on the Mount Head Dimensions of the SXG Half Pillar (Sold separately) Thread M8mm (pitch1.25mm) Maximum allowable depth : 11mm Thread UNC5/16 inch...
  • Page 115 APPENDIX Dimensions of the SXG-HAL130 Tripod 145mm 128mm Dimensions of the XSG-P85DX Pillar φ128mm 46.7mm 3-M6×1 Socket cap screw 15mm long M12×1.75 φ114.3 6 -M8×1.25 Socket cap screw 20mm long 3-M12×1.75 Cap screw 60mm long 12-M8×1.25 *Actual dimensions may differ slightly on your product. Socket cap screw 20mm long P.C.D 850mm *The specifications are subject to change without notice.
  • Page 116 5-17-3 H i gash itokorozawa,Tokorozawa, S tama 359-0021, Japan P h o n e +81-4-2944-4141 ( International ) ht tps:// w w w.vixen.co.jp F a x +81-4-2944-9722 ( International ) 67キ-4-(80000258)-0.05S-6400-(ミ)(M)

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