Telescope Mode; Object Information; Start Find; Field - Meade Magellan II User Manual

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Coordinate Mode
Timer Mode
Blank Mode
Some modes have sub-menus accessed by moving the LCD arrow (positioned to the left of the menu item) up or
down using the PREV or NEXT key, and then pressing ENTER.
A. Telescope Mode
The default start-up mode for Magellan is Telescope Mode. This mode has telescope-related functions. The sub-
menus for this mode are: Object Library, Align, Date, Encoders Reverse N/S, Reverse E/W, North hemi and Help.
These functions allow the telescope to be aligned, object libraries to be accessed for pointing at these objects, and to
set certain telescope functions.
1. Object Library
This menu item defaults to the top of the menu listing for quick access. All library data and object search filters are
accessed from this menu. When selected, by pressing the ENTER key, a scrolling menu appears listing the object
library functions. These functions include: Object Information, Start Find, Field Parameters and User Library.
The fastest method for selecting an object from the available catalogs is to press one of the catalog function keys,
namely 2, 3, 5, 6 or 9. These keys will immediately access the selected catalog unless you are currently editing a
character string.
a) Object Information
The display shows information about the selected library object. Pressing ENTER displays the object's description
(i.e. the name, type, magnitude and size or separation). Pressing ENTER again displays the object's coordinates in
Right Ascension and Declination. A third press of ENTER displays the distance to the object from the telescope's
current position. This distance is continually updated as the telescope is moved allowing you to steer the telescope to
the object.
As you move to various parts of the sky, you may find that object positions differ slightly from the position indicated by
Magellan. These differences arise from inaccuracies in leveling (squaring) or centering stars during the initial
alignment. You can make minor corrections to the alignment by "synchronizing" Magellan on any object within the
Magellan catalogs. This is done by centering the known object in the field of view while the object information for that
object is displayed. Press and hold the ENTER key for one or two seconds and the display will show the message,
"Center object, then press ENTER." Pressing ENTER will now synchronize the Magellan to the coordinates of the
centered object. This will improve the accuracy of Magellan for objects in the immediate vicinity. While any object from
the object catalogs may be used to "sync" the Magellan, you may wish to select a bright neighbor of a fainter object to
provide the final pointing accuracy to find that faint object. Appendix A lists the bright stars from the STAR catalog
which may be used for this purpose.
The MODE key aborts the selected menu item and returns to the previous menu list.
b) Start Find
Selecting this option filters the library database for objects that match the specifications listed under the Parameters
menu (see below) and displays the closest object's description (i.e. the name, type, magnitude and size). Pressing
ENTER again displays the object's coordinates in Right Ascension and Declination. A third press of ENTER displays
the distance to the object from the telescope's current position.
Press NEXT to display the information for the next closest object. PREV will display the information for the farthest
object (or the previous closest object).
The MODE key aborts the selected menu item and returns to the previous menu list.
c) Field

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