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This command identifies objects in the field of view of the telescope. By pressing ENTER Magellan displays the
central object's description (i.e. the name, type, magnitude and size). Pressing ENTER again displays its coordinates
in Right Ascension and Declination. A third press of ENTER displays the distance to the object from the telescope's
current position.
The MODE key aborts the selected menu item and returns to the previous menu list.
d) Parameters
Start Find uses the specifications listed below to filter the database for matching objects. Scroll through these 6
specifications using the PREV/NEXT keys and select the ones to change by pressing ENTER.
1) Type
This menu file option allows you to select the type of CNGC objects you wish to locate. The symbols GPDCO
represent:
G Galaxies
P Planetary Nebulae
D Diffuse Nebulae
C Globular Star Clusters
O Open Star Clusters
Initially, the blinking cursor appears over the G symbol. If you decide not to look for galaxies, press the PREV/NEXT
key and the letter will disappear, deselecting the GALAXIES category. If you wish to leave GALAXIES selected, then
move the blinking cursor over to one of the other category symbols by pressing ENTER. You can then deselect the
undesired categories. If you wish to recall a category symbol, move the blinking cursor over the symbol location and
press the PREV/NEXT key. After your selections are made, press ENTER.
2) Better
The BETTER menu file option allows you to define the visual object quality range. At power up, the range is set at the
bottom of the scale on VP. When using the START FIND menu selection, it will select all objects that are very poor
through super or what could be considered an "ALL" setting. The object quality symbols are:
SU Super
EX Excellent
VG Very Good
G
Good
FR Fair
PR Poor
VP Very Poor
If you wish to define the visual object quality range to very good and better, press ENTER and the blinking cursor will
appear on the quality value. From the quality setting press PREV/NEXT to move to higher or lower quality settings.
Once you have selected the quality value required, press ENTER to complete the selection process.
3) Larger
The LARGER menu file option allows settings of the lower apparent size limit of the objects you wish to see. At power
up, it is set to 000' (arc minutes). In order to make a decision as to the size limits that you may impose, it helps to
have a clear understanding of exactly what an arc minute of sky is. A good example is the apparent size of the Moon,
which could be expressed as 1/2 degree, 30 arc minutes, or 1800 arc seconds. Each arc minute is 60 arc seconds,
and there are 60 arc minutes for each degree of sky.
Some beginning observers have a tough time discerning objects less than about 1 arc minute in size unless it is a
double star or a planet. Astrophotographers and those involved with CCD imaging may want to set a higher value
based on a desired image scale coverage that would be most impressive with different films or types of CCD
cameras. Enter the new value in arc minutes by pressing ENTER to indicate that editing is required. This will cause
the cursor to blink on the first digit of the sequence. Pressing a number key on the handbox will enter that number into
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