Autostar

Captions for Cover

1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Screen - A 2 line, 16 character each line, information screen. Brightness and contrast of the screen is adjustable. ENTER Key - Completes a data entry or selects an Autostar function. MODE Key - Exits the current function and returns to the previous menu. Press MODE instead of ENTER to void any data input or feature selection. Pressing MODE for more than 2 seconds displays telescope status. GO TO Key - Moves the telescope to selected objects or coordinates. Arrow Keys - Moves the telescope in any of four directions. When data is entered, the arrow keys move the screen cursor. Number Keys - Enters numeric data. When not used to enter data, the number keys select telescope motor speeds (1 is slowest, 9 is fastest). 0 Key - Enters data or turns the Utility Light on and off. Scroll Up Key - Views menu options one entry at a time. During a moving message, this key increases message speed. Scroll Down Key -Views menu options one entry at a time. During a moving message, this key decreases message speed. Help (?) Key - Access the Autostar Help function. Coil Cord Port - Connects the coil cord (13) to Autostar. Serial Port - RS-232 cable port to Autostar. Coil Cord - Connects between Autostar and the telescope. Utility Light - Illuminates objects such as a watch or star chart. Pressing the 0 key turns the utility light on and off.
WARNING: Never use Autostar to move a telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point a telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through a telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

Introduction

This manual describes applications of the Autostar Computer Controller with various models of Meade telescopes: ETX-90EC: Refer to the manual included with the ETX-90EC for instructions on the basic operation of the telescope, including usage of the standard-equipment Electronic Controller (EC). DS-telescopes (e.g., DS-60, DS-70, etc.): (a) Refer to the manual included with each of these models for instructions on the basic operation of the telescope. (b) If you purchased a DS-model which includes the #492 Dual-Motor Electronic Control System, then interchange the Electronic Controller (EC) of the #492 System with the Autostar Computer Controller and follow the instructions in this manual. The Autostar handbox plugs into the same HBX connector on the telescope as the EC handbox. (c) If your DS-model did not originally include the #492 System, and you are now adding the complete #493 Autostar Computer Control System (including motors on both axes) to your telescope, then read the enclosed manual (Meade #493 Autostar Computer Control System) first, before reading this manual. Autostar assists the observer with a large variety of features, including: Control the movement of the telescope to locate terrestrial and astronomical objects. Catalog of events (e.g., Moon phases, meteor showers, etc.).

4. 5. 6.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
NOTE: All number references in this manual are to the Autostar Computer Controller shown on the front cover.
-3 Guided tours of the best objects based on date and location. Model #495 Autostar has a database of over 1,200 astronomical objects. Model #497 Autostars database includes over 12,000 astronomical objects. A glossary of over 90 descriptions and definitions. A built in Help function by pressing the ? key. Utilities including eyepiece magnification, alarms, battery monitor, power saving functions, and more. Connect to a computer to remotely control the telescope. Language Selection: Autostar offers text in one of six possible languages. Press the key for the desired language. *Problem* If the wrong language is selected, press MODE and Autostar requests the language selection again. Sun Warning: Autostar displays a sun warning message which must be carefully read by every person using the telescope. After reading the message, follow the instructions to move to the next operation. *Hint* If screen messages are moving too fast (or slow), use the SCROLL keys (8 & 9) to change the speed. Self Calibration: Testing Motors is displayed and the telescope moves a short distance in both axes. Automatic calibration of the motors happens only once, the first time Autostar is used. NOTE: If Autostar is moved to another telescope, it needs to be recalibrated (see the Setup:Telescope:Calibrate Motor menu). Getting Started: Getting Started, is displayed with a message offering a description of Autostar operation. Press ENTER (2) to bypass this tutorial or press the ? key (10) to begin the message. At this point, Autostar can move the telescope using the ARROW keys (5). Pressing one of these keys moves the telescope up, down, left, or right. The speed of movement is changed by pressing a NUMBER key (9 = fastest, 1 = slowest). Date: The date must be entered each time power is applied. Enter numbers by pressing the numeric keys. Press the right or left ARROW key (5) to move the cursor. To change the month, use the up or down ARROW key. After the correct month is displayed press the right ARROW key to move to the year. Change the year, if required, using the numeric keys. When the correct date is displayed, press ENTER to complete the date entry. *Hint* The utility light (14) is turned on during date and time entry to illuminate a watch. Time: Local time must be entered each time Autostar power is applied. Enter the time using the NUMBER and ARROW keys. Change AM or PM using the SCROLL keys (8 & 9). When the time displayed is correct, press ENTER to start the clock running.

This Instruction Manual begins by explaining the operation of Autostar in sequence from turning on power to locating the first object in the sky. The telescope and manual should be used together to complete this important series of operations. The balance of the manual is a reference for additional functions. The first time Autostar power is applied, additional activities are required. Pick a comfortable location and take the time necessary to read each step carefully. When viewing is required, move to an open area outside and continue operation.

First Operation

Autostar Installation: Verify that power is turned off at the telescope computer control panel. Plug the coil cord (13) into the coil cord port (11). Plug the other end into the computer control panel HBX (handbox) port. Turn on the telescope power using the switch on the ETX computer control panel or by plugging in the power cord to the DS computer control panel. Initialization: With power on, Autostar begins the startup process by displaying the Meade copyright message, sounding a beep, and initializing the computer system. After initialization, Autostar requests information needed to operate the telescope. *Problem* If Autostar does not display messages, turn the power off and then back on. Also, check the batteries or other power source. If the beep sounded and the screen is difficult to read, press MODE (3) and Autostar resets the screen to factory settings.
-4Daylight Savings: When time is entered, it must be identified as Standard or Daylight Savings. Daylight Savings is when clocks are set ahead one hour. If Daylight Savings, select YES, otherwise choose NO. Use the SCROLL keys (8 & 9) to chose YES or NO. When the screen is correct, press ENTER to complete the entry. Telescope Site: The location on Earth (site) of the telescope must be entered. Use the SCROLL keys to pick the nearest Country (or State) from the alphabetical list. When the screen shows the correct selection, press ENTER. Next use the SCROLL keys to select the nearest City. Press ENTER when the best choice is displayed. NOTE: Not all countries or cities are listed. Pick the nearest from available choices. To add more sites, see the Setup:Site:Add menu. Telescope Model: Use the SCROLL keys to display the telescope model, then press ENTER. The telescope model can be found on the telescope box or a foil label on the telescope tube. Autostar automatically requests this information only once. Autostar Initialization Complete: In future sessions, Autostar only requests the date and time during the power-on sequence. Other items (such as language, motor calibration, site, and telescope model) remain unchanged from the previous session. After initializing, Autostar pauses at the alignment menu. Alignment relates objects in the sky to the position of the telescope. Autostar needs to be aligned accurately to find objects. Before proceeding with alignment, a general explanation of Autostar functions is helpful. Keypad and Help Function: The Autostar keypad has 20 keys. To register a single keystroke, press and release a key firmly and briefly. Holding a key for a longer period causes a repeated key entry. This is useful for operations which require multiple keystrokes. The Help (?) key (10), provides advice on operations, in the form of a moving message. LCD Screen and Hypertext: The Autostar screen has 2 lines of 16 characters each. The top line is the current active function or menu and the bottom line is the next level of options, data, or a message. When a moving message appears the speed can be changed using the SCROLL keys. To exit the message, press MODE briefly, unless the message gives some other instruction. Sometimes embedded in a moving message is a bracketed [word], referred to as Hypertext. Autostar Hypertext is similar to that used on the Internet. While a Hypertext word is visible, press ENTER, and the definition of the word appears, replacing the first message. After the new message is complete, press MODE and return to the original message. If the Hypertext is an object, like Jupiter, press GO TO while the word is visible and the telescope moves and points at the object.

Autostar Menus

Autostar Menu Structures: Autostar has menus with lists of available features (see Figure 1). The menus are organized in descending levels and are seen on the Autostar screen (1). The top line of the screen is the currently active menu category and the bottom line has the list of menu options that can be selected. Four keys are used to navigate the menus; ENTER, MODE, and both SCROLL keys. Pressing ENTER activates the item listed on the bottom line (moving down a menu level) and moves it to the top line. With the selected function on the top line, a new list of functions can then be displayed on the bottom line. To go back to the previous menu (moving up a menu level), press MODE. Pressing a SCROLL key changes the menu item visible on the bottom line. Since only one item of a menu list can be displayed on the bottom line, scrolling makes the other choices visible.
Autostar Manual Operation
Moving the Telescope: The ARROW keys (5) move the telescope in four directions; up, down, left, and right. The speed of movement is changed by pressing a numeric key from 1 to 9, with 9 being the fastest. Speed settings remain until changed by pressing a different number. Take time now to move the telescope using the ARROW keys. Pick an object and point the telescope at it. Use a slower speed when nearing the object to accurately center it in the viewfinder and then in the eyepiece. These skills are useful when training and aligning the telescope.

-5Select Item:

Object Event Guided Tour Tour Objects Glossary Utilities Setup Align Easy Date One Star Time Two Star Daylight Saving Telescope Telescope Model Targets Focal Length Site Az. Ratio Owner Info Alt. Ratio Clone Mount Download Train Drive Statistics Tracking Rate Reset Reverse L/R Reverse UP/DOWN Calibrate Motor High Precision Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset Moon Phases Meteor Shower Solar Eclipses Lunar Eclipses Min. of Algol Autumn Equinox Vernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice Solar System Constellation Deep Sky Star Satellite User Object Landmarks Identify Named SAO Catalog Double Variable Nearby With Planets Named Objects Galaxies Nebulas Planetary Neb. Star Clusters Quasars Black Holes IC Objects NGC Objects Caldwell Objects Messier Objects Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Moon Asteroids Comets

Timer Alarm Eyepiece Calc. Brightness Adj. Contrast Adj. Battery Alarm Landmark Survey Sleep Scope Park Scope

A B C Z

AUTOSTAR MENU STRUCTURE KEY

ENTER MODE

The ENTER key (2) moves to the right The MODE key (3) moves to the left The up SCROLL key (8) moves up The down SCROLL key (9) moves down
(press and hold for 2 sec.)
Telescope Status Display RA/Dec Alt/Az Time Timer Battery Focus Enter to Sync.
ENTER (press and hold for 2 sec.)
Fig. 1: Autostar Primary Menus and Options.
-6Figure 1 shows the complete Autostar menu structure showing the paths that can be followed. From any point in the menu, pressing ENTER moves along a menu line to the right. Pressing MODE moves to the left along a menu line. Pressing the down SCROLL key moves down menu lists and pressing the up SCROLL key moves up. Menu Example: Finding the sunset time is a good example of how to use Autostar menus. Begin by pressing MODE several times until the screen reads Select Item: on the top line and Object on the bottom line. Pressing MODE multiple times causes Autostar to move back to the Object menu. The main menu has six choices; Object, Event, Guided Tour, Glossary, Utilities, and Setup. Pressing a SCROLL keys makes each of these visible on the bottom line of the screen. Press a SCROLL key until the bottom line reads, Event, then press ENTER to select that menu. The top line now reads Event: and the bottom line reads, Sunrise (the first item in the Event menu). Use a SCROLL key to view the other items, finishing with Sunset on the bottom line. Press ENTER to start the sunset calculation which then displays the sunset time for the current day. To leave the Sunset function and return to the Event menu, press MODE. Press MODE again to return to the main menu with the top line reading, Select Item: and the bottom line Event. Use similar sequences of the ENTER, MODE and SCROLL keys to explore other functions in the Autostar menu. Try other events or look up words in the Glossary. Do not change any settings in the Utilities or Setup menus until they have been explained later in this manual. *Hint* To avoid changing any value, press MODE which returns to the previous menu without making a change to any Autostar settings. Also use the Help (?) key for an explanation of any menu. To train Autostar, prepare the telescope for optical viewing by removing dust covers and inserting an eyepiece. The viewfinder should also be aligned and ready for use. Select a fixed land object as a reference for the training process. Point the telescope at the selected object and center it in the eyepiece. Press MODE until the main menu is displayed (Select Item:). Press a SCROLL key until Setup is on the bottom line, then press ENTER. With Setup: now on the top line, press a SCROLL key until the bottom line reads Telescope, then press ENTER. In the Telescope menu, press a SCROLL key until Train Drive appears on the bottom line, then press ENTER. The top line of the screen should read, Train Drive: and the bottom line should read Az. Train. Both telescope motors need to be trained separately. Start with Az. Train by pressing ENTER and following the instructions given. Autostar moves the telescope away from the centered object and asks that it be centered using only one ARROW key (all other ARROW keys are disabled). After the object is centered, press ENTER. Autostar now moves the telescope in the other direction and ask for the object to be centered again. Center the object and press ENTER. The training for the Azimuth axis is complete. Autostar has returned to the Train Drive: menu. Select the second motor using a SCROLL key until the bottom line reads, Alt. Train. Press ENTER and follow instructions as before. This time, the telescope moves up and down otherwise the training sequence is the same as Az. Train. After completing Alt. Train, Autostar is ready for alignment and operation. Remember the accuracy of this training determines how well Autostar finds objects.

Telescope Alignment

Alignment is the method used to relate objects in the sky to the position of the telescope. Autostar has six methods of alignment, three for Polar alignment and three for Alt/Az Alignment. The simplest method to align is Easy Align in the Alt/Az mode. Easy Align requires the telescope to be placed level on a table or on a tripod such as the Meade Deluxe Field Tripod. Select an

Telescope Training

Autostar is not able to accurately point at objects unless it is aligned and trained. Training Autostar allows it to collect data about the gears in the telescope motor system. Once training is complete, Autostar saves the data for later operations. Use great care in training the Autostar system to achieve maximum accuracy.
-7outside area with few obstructions and an open sky. The telescope should be prepared for observing with lens covers removed, a low power eyepiece installed and the viewfinder aligned. Use MODE to return to the main menu (Select Item:). Chose the Setup menu and press ENTER. Press ENTER again to select the Align menu. Press ENTER a third time to begin the Easy Align procedure and follow the instructions given by Autostar. The first action is to put the telescope in the Home position. Home position for all telescope models is with the telescope tube level (at 0) and pointed North. ETX telescopes must also have the base in a special position to avoid internal hardstops. Begin by releasing the ETX horizontal lock lever. Turn the telescope counterclockwise until it stops. Next turn the telescope clockwise until the fork arm is directly over the computer control panel and lock the horizontal axis. With the telescope in the home position (level and pointed North), press ENTER. Autostar now selects a bright star and moves the telescope to point near it. Using the ARROW keys, center the star in the viewfinder and then in the eyepiece. The alignment star should be easily recognized and is the brightest object in the sky where the telescope is aimed. When the star is centered, press ENTER. Autostar then selects a second star and points the telescope toward it. Repeat the same procedure as used on the first star. If the alignment operation was done accurately, Autostar displays, Align Successful. The telescope begins tracking (motors can be heard making a low hum) and the screen returns to the main menu. *Hint* If a selected star is not visible or is behind an obstacle, press a SCROLL key and Autostar makes another selection. The SCROLL key can be pressed as often as needed to locate a visible star. *Problem* If Autostar detects inconsistent data the screen reads: Alignment Failed. Repeat the alignment procedure until successful. Guided Tour picks the best objects available for viewing. To start a guided tour, select the Guided Tour function from the main menu. Use the SCROLL keys to view the list of tour objects and press ENTER to select any object of interest. When selected, the object name appears on the top line and information about the object is on the bottom line. Object information includes: astronomical coordinates, size, brightness, and more. All information can be seen using the SCROLL keys. Some objects have a moving message with a description of the object. If a moving message appears, use MODE to exit the message when completed. To direct Autostar to point the telescope at a selected object, press GO TO. The telescope moves at high speed toward the object. The telescope slows as it approaches the object and eventually stops and sounds a beep. The object should be visible in the eyepiece of the telescope. To see more objects in the Guided Tour, press MODE. Display a new object with the SCROLL keys and press ENTER to select it. Use this method to view any of the Guided Tour objects. *Problem* If objects are not in the eyepiece after GO TO is pressed, check the viewfinder to see if it is near the center. Under high magnification, some objects may be slightly out of the field of view and need some minor manual correction using the ARROW keys. If the object was not close to center, there are several possibilities. First, the telescope must sit on a stable surface or tripod. Second, use only the ARROW keys or GO TO key to move the telescope or alignment is lost. Third, be sure the date, time, and site are accurately entered. Fourth, make sure the telescope axis locks are firmly engaged to prevent slippage of the internal clutch. Fifth, telescope training must be accurate. Repeat very carefully all of the steps to train the telescope. Last, the alignment procedure must be done accurately. Make sure each step is done carefully and that alignment stars are centered. Synchronize Function: To improve the ability of Autostar to find objects, a sync function is included to make minor alignment corrections. If an object is not centered in the eyepiece, press and

Finding Objects in the Sky
With Autostar aligned, it is possible to find any visible object in the Object menu. Another option, is to take a Guided Tour.
-8hold ENTER for two seconds. Autostar requests that the selected object be centered, then press ENTER again. This improves the accuracy of alignment, particularly in the region of sky immediately around the sync object. Telescope Status Display: This is activated by pressing MODE for more than 2 seconds. The screen shows values related to Autostar operation, and can be viewed by using the SCROLL keys. The telescope can also be pointed at a particular location using the ARROW keys and watching a location display. For automatic movement of the telescope, press GO TO during a location display. Autostar requests the destination coordinates to be entered. Enter the coordinates, then press ENTER. Autostar moves the telescope to that location. To exit the status display, press MODE. Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our solar system such as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and quasars. Star is a database of stars by different categories such as named, double, variable, or nearby. Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, and other satellites. This feature is recommended for advanced users only since acquiring and tracking a fast moving object can be complicated. Additionally, Autostar needs fresh satellite data or it is unable to accurately predict the appearance time and location. The Meade web site (www.meade.com) provides updated information on orbits and complete instructions on how to use this feature. User Objects allows the user to define deep-sky objects of interest that are not currently in the Autostar database. Landmarks stores terrestrial points of interest. To enter a new landmark the telescope must be located and aligned exactly as when other landmarks were entered. Sync on a reference landmark, then move the telescope to the new landmark and enter it into the Autostar database. Identify is used when an object is placed in the telescope eyepiece and Autostar identifies the object being observed. B. Event Menu Options The Select Item: Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. Included are: Sunrise and Sunset displays the time that the Sun rises or sets on the current date. Moonrise and Moonset displays the time that the Moon rises or sets on the current date. Moon Phases displays the date and time of Full, New, 1st Qtr, and 3rd Qtr Moon. Meteor Showers provides information about upcoming meteor showers, including dates of the shower and when it is scheduled to reach maximum.

Autostar Menus and Function Reference
This section discusses each of the Autostar menus and functions (see Figure 1). To access any of the functions use the ENTER, MODE and SCROLL keys as in previous operations. A. Object Menu Options The Select Item: Object menu contains a database of objects for viewing, including astronomical, terrestrial and user-defined objects. When an object has been selected it appears on the top line of the screen. The bottom line contains information about the object which is viewed using the SCROLL keys. Press GO TO and the telescope points at the current object. Solar System includes eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from the Sun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets. Constellation is a database of all 88 northern and southern hemisphere constellations. When this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen, pressing GO TO changes the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Pressing GO TO again moves the telescope to that star. Use the SCROLL keys to cycle through the stars in the constellation from brightest to dimmest.
-9 Solar Eclipse lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including the date and type of eclipse along with the location and time of the first and last contacts of the lunar shadow across the Earth. Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses. Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the eclipsing binary star system, Algol. Every 2.8 days during a 10 hour period, Algol undergoes a major change in magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates fall or spring equinox. Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the winter or summer solstice for the current year. C. Glossary Menu Options The Select Item: Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and Autostar functions. Press ENTER to access the Glossary database. Use the SCROLL keys to scroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry, then press ENTER to read the description. D. Utilities Menu Options The Select Item: Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within Autostar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. Specific Utilities options include: Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for things such as astrophotography and in tracking satellites. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose Set or Start/Stop. Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder function. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose Set or Start/Stop. Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece and how it functions for the specific telescope to which Autostar is connected. Brightness Adj uses the scroll keys to adjust the brightness of the screen. When complete, press ENTER. Contrast Adj uses the scroll keys to adjust the contrast of the screen. This feature is usually only required in very cold weather. When complete, press ENTER. Battery Alarm sounds when the batteries are nearing replacement. If not desired, press the scroll key to change the screen from YES to NO. Press ENTER and the beep no longer sounds. Landmark Survey automatically moves the telescope to all userdefined landmarks with a pause at each location. Use the ARROW keys to manually locate the first landmark. Press and hold ENTER for 2 seconds; the message ENTER to Sync. appears. Press ENTER and this landmark is synchronized with all other landmarks. Important Note: To accomplish a landmark survey, all landmarks must have been entered into the Autostar database from the same reference point (i.e., the telescope must be in the exact same location and mounted and aligned in the exact same way). Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down Autostar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. Press ENTER to activate the Sleep function and Autostar goes dark but the internal clock keeps running. Press any key, except ENTER, to re-activate. Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Align the telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope. Next time it is powered up, enter the correct date and time no alignment is required. Pressing ENTER causes the telescope to move to its pre-determined Park position. Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off power. E. Setup Menu Options The Select Item: Setup category primary function is to align the telescope. However, there are numerous other features available within Setup. These options are: Date changes the date currently used by Autostar. Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate locations and events.

- 10 Daylight Saving is used to set the status of Daylight Savings time. Telescope accesses the telescope options, including: Telescope Model: Selects the model of telescope connected. Focal Length: Changes the focal length of the telescope by typing in new numbers, then press ENTER. Az Ratio and Alt Ratio: The Az (Azimuth) ratio and Alt (Altitude) ratio refers to the gears installed in the telescope motors. Do not alter these numbers. Mount: Choose between Alt/Az mount or Polar Mount. A polar mount requires that the telescope be physically polar aligned. Train Drive: Trains the telescope motor drive to locate objects with more precision. This function is very important to accomplish the first time Autostar is connected to a telescope. Tracking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tracks targets in the sky. Sidereal is the rate that stars move across the sky due to the Earths rotation, Lunar is the rate that the Moon moves, and Custom allows entry of userdefined tracking rates. Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the left and right arrows (i.e., the right key moves the telescope to the left). Reverse UP/DOWN: Reverses the functions of the up and down arrows (i.e., the up key moves the telescope down). slews to a nearby bright star and requests ENTER to Sync. Center the star in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. The telescope then slews to the originally requested object. Targets switches between Astronomical targets (motor drive on) and Terrestrial targets (motor drive off). Site allows access to the Site options including: Select: Displays the current site chosen during initialization. Use the scroll keys to cycle through all available sites. Add: Adds a new observing site. Delete: Deletes a stored site. Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, latitude, longitude, and time zone.
Owner Info accesses the owner information menu, including the owners name and address. Clone uploads information from one Autostar to another. Three options are available: Catalogs: Sends only the user-defined object information, such as new satellite or comet information, to another Autostar. Software: Sends only the basic Autostar software. This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version of the Autostar software from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and wants to pass this new software along to friends. All: Everything is sent to another Autostar.

NOTE: The reverse functions above are useful for observers in the southern hemisphere (i.e., South America, Australia, Africa, etc.) Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have any sort of problem, use this option to retest the motors before doing a Reset. This option is also used if Autostar is moved between telescopes to match Autostar to the telescope. High Precision: If High Precision is turned on, when looking for a faint celestial object (i.e., a nebula or galaxy) Autostar
Download transfers information from a personal computer or another Autostar as described above in Clone. Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including Characters Free and Version. Reset completely resets Autostar. Autostar requires initialization again before proceeding with observations.

FCC NOTICE

MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY
Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (Meade) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A. and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only and is nontransferable. Meade products purchased outside North America are not included in this warranty, but are covered under separate warranties issued by Meade international distributors. RGA Number Required: Prior to the return of any product or part, a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number must be obtained from Meade by writing, or by calling (949) 451-1450. Each returned part or product must include a written statement detailing the nature of the claimed defect, as well as the owners name, address, and phone number. This warranty is not valid in cases where the product has been abused or mishandled, where unauthorized repairs have been attempted or performed, or where depreciation of the product is due to normal wear-and-tear. Meade specifically disclaims special, indirect, or consequential damages or lost profit which may result from a breach of this warranty. Any implied warranties which can not be disclaimed are hereby limited to a term of one year from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other rights which vary from state to state. Meade reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without notice. This warranty supersedes all previous Meade product warranties.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of a CLASS B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that of the receiver. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician. Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the users authority to operate this equipment.
Meade Instruments Corporation
Worlds leading manufacturer of astronomical telescopes for the serious amateur.
6001 OAK CANYON, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92620-4205 U.S.A. s (949) 451-1450 FAX: (949) 451-1460 s www.meade.com
1999 All Rights Reserved. The name Meade and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the United States Patent Office. Ver. 0399 Part Number 14-2001-01

The Autostar #494 Handbox is compatible with the Meade DS (Digital Electronic Telescope) series. Please refer to your telescopes instruction manual for information specific to your telescope model. The name Meade, the Meade logo, and Autostar are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation.

Key to Fig. 3

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Screen (2-lines, 16 characters each line) ENTER Key MODE Key GO TO Key Arrow Keys (Up, Down, Left, and Right) Scroll Up Key Scroll Down Key Speed/? (Speed/Help) Key Coil Cord
Fig. 3: Autostar #494 Features.
AUTOSTAR FEATURES Control of nearly every telescope function is accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar's keys. Autostar has softtouch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make Autostar extremely user-friendly. Refer to Fig. 3 for the positions of the following keys.
MODE Key: Returns to the previous menu or data level
in the Autostar database until the top level (Select Item) is reached. The MODE key is similar to the EXIT key on a computer. NOTE: Pressing MODE while in the Select Item level moves Autostar to the topmost screen: "Select Item: Object." NOTE: If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, the following information is then available using the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3): Azimuth (horizontal) and Altitude (vertical) coordinates Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST) Timer and Alarm Status
2-Line LCD Display: Provides a visual interface
between Autostar and the telescope. Top line: Lists the primary category or menu item. Bottom line: Contains a menu option, or information about an object or subject, depending on which function is being performed.
ENTER Key: Accesses, in a sequential manner, the next
menu or data level in the Autostar database (see AUTOSTAR NAVIGATION, page 11). The ENTER key is similar to the RETURN key on a computer. NOTE: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or more and then released, Autostar emits a beep and ENTER to Sync is displayed. "ENTER to Sync" is relevant only after the telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. If the "ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake, press MODE to return to the previous screen. See "HIGH PRECISION," page 25.
GO TO Key: Slews (moves) the telescope to the coordinates of the currently selected object. While the telescope is slewing, the operation may be aborted at any time by pressing any key except GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumes the slew to the object. Arrow Keys: Slew the telescope in a specific direction

(up, down, left, and right), at any one of nine different speeds (see SLEW SPEEDS, page 18). The following functions are also available with the Arrow keys: Data Entry: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to Scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits. The Down Arrow key starts with the letter "A" and the Up Arrow key starts with the digit "9." The Left and Right
Arrow keys are used to move the blinking cursor left and right across the LCD display. Alt/Az alignment: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move the telescope vertically up and down. The Left Arrow key rotates the telescope horizontally counterclockwise, while the Right Arrow key rotates it clockwise. NOTE: Throughout this manual, you will notice the term "Alt/Az." Alt/Az is frequently used to refer to Altitude or vertical and Azimuth or horizontal. Alt/Az is just one of many methods used by amateur astronomers to help locate stars in the night sky.
the Speed/? key is pressed briefly, the current slew speed displays. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 18. The Speed/? key also accesses the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on how to accomplish whatever task is currently active. TIP: Pressing the Speed/? key very briefly changes the slew speed. Holding down the Speed/? key longer (one to two seconds) accesses the Help function. Hold down the Speed/? key and then follow the prompts on the display to access details of Autostar functions in the Help feature. The Help system is essentially an on-screen instruction manual. If you have a question about an Autostar operation, e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT, etc., hold down the Speed/? key and follow the directions that scroll on the second line of the LCD screen. When a word appears in [brackets], press ENTER to access the Autostar Glossary. A definition or more detailed information is displayed. Press MODE to return to the scrolling Autostar Help display. When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the original screen and continue with the chosen procedure.
Scroll Keys: Access database options within a selected menu. The menu is displayed on the first line of the screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one at a time, on the second line. Press the Scroll keys to move through the options. Press and hold one of the Scroll keys to move quickly through the options.
The Scroll keys also scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits. NOTE: The Scroll Down key and the Down Arrow key move forward through the alphabet & digits (A to Z, 0-9) and the Scroll Up key and the Up Arrow key move backward (9-0, Z to A).

Train the drive Align the telescope
Select "Align: Easy" from Autostar's menus MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTARS MENUS Autostar's menus are organized for quick and easy navigation: Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3) to go deeper into Autostar's menu levels. Press MODE (3, Fig. 3) to move back toward the top menu level. Press the Scroll keys (6 and 7, Fig. 3) to move up and down through the options available for each level.
Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 3) to enter characters and digits. INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR This section describes how to initialize Autostar. Initialization is a procedure that enables Autostar to operate correctly. When you first use Autostar, it doesn't yet "know" the location of the observing site or the time or date of the observation session. During the Initialization procedure, you will enter this information. Autostar then uses the information to calculate the location of celestial objects and to move your telescope correctly for various operations. NOTE: You will enter the Time and Date at the beginning of each observing session, but you will only enter your location and Telescope Model the
first time you use Autostar or after performing a Reset. Fig. 4 depicts an example of an Autostar Initialization procedure.
(00) Meade (1.0) AUTOSTAR Initializing.
Enter Time: 08:00:00PM (default) 1 (1X)
Country/State AFGHANISTAN Multiple Presses Country/State CALIFORNIA
WARNING LOOKING AT. Press the appropriate key Getting Started For a Detailed.

(1X) 1 (3X) (1X) 4 (4X)

Nearest City ALAMEDA NAS Multiple Presses Nearest City IRVINE
Enter Date: 01-Jan-(2X) (1X) 6 (5X) (1X) Mar (2X) 2000 (4X) 2001 (1X) Enter Date: 26-Mar-2001 Enter Time: 11:47:00PM

7 (7X) PM (default)

Telescope Model (Model Number) Multiple Presses Telescope Model (Your Model Number)

Daylight Savings >NO

Parameters in this example: Date: March 26, 2001 Time: 11:47 PM Location: Irvine, California

Setup Align

1. Plug Autostar's cord into the HBX port and plug the power cord into the 12v port as previously described. Make sure the motor assemblies are plugged into the proper ports (see your telescope's instruction manual for details). Also make sure that the telescope's horizontal and vertical locks are tight (see the telescope instruction manual). 2. The Autostar handbox is now activated and a copyright message displays briefly. 3. Autostar takes a few moments to prepare the system and then "beeps." 4. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. Press the key prompted by Autostar to signify that you have read and understood the message. 5. The Getting Started menu displays a scrolling message with two choices: a. Hold down the Speed/? key (8, Fig. 3) for information on Autostar functions and controls. When finished, press MODE (3, Fig. 3) to exit Help and to return to the Getting Started procedure, or, b. Press ENTER (2, Fig. 3) to bypass the Help tutorial and continue with initialization. 6. The telescope tests the motors by slewing a short distance vertically and horizontally (this test only occurs the first time you use Autostar). NOTE: If the telescope does not move, or moves in only one axis, check that the vertical and horizontal locks are tight (see your telescope instruction manual for details).

Autostar then prompts you to choose your telescope model number. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of telescope models. Press ENTER when your telescope model number displays. NOTE: Autostar only prompts you to enter Country/State, City, and Telescope Model Number the first time it is activated. These prompts do not appear again, unless you reset Autostar (see "RESET," page 26). However, if you change your geographic location, you can change the location information by using the Site option of the Setup menu. See "SITE," page 26, for detailed information. If you use Autostar with another DS model telescope, you can change the model number information using the "Telescope Model" option of the Setup menu. See page 25. Also see "CALIBRATE MOTOR," page 25.
OBJECT Select from over 1400 database objects and press GO TO to move the telescope automatically to the object and place it in the telescopic field of view. SETUP Quick, easy alignment permits all telescope operations with only a 2-minute setup. Select Item: Setup UTILITIES Calculate eyepiece magnifications; set the timer for an observing session; or survey user landmarks in 30-second intervals. Select Item: Utilities GLOSSARY Discover the world of astronomy by alphabetically accessing astronomical terms. Select Item: Object

The Universe of

Autostar
Select Item: Event EVENT Access the time of an astronomical event, such as the rising or setting times of the Moon. Select Item: Guided Tour GUIDED TOUR Journey through the universe as Autostar escorts you to the best celestial objects at your location.

Select Item: Glossary

Fig. 6: Autostar Universe.
11. System initialization is complete and the display reads "Align: Easy." Proceed to "AUTOSTAR NAVIGATION" for general information about Autostar before training the drive and aligning the telescope.
AUTOSTAR NAVIGATION Figs. 5 and 6 depict the six primary categories listed in the "Select Item" menu of Autostar. See MOVING WITHIN AUTOSTAR to learn how to access these categories. It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 5). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 1) cycles down through all the available options within a given category, then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (6, Fig. 1) cycles up through the options in the opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to get to an option that is near the bottom of the list. The following example demonstrates this capability.

Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database for the Easy Two-Star Alignment procedure. During the Easy Alignment procedure, Autostar slews the telescope to the first alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then prompted to center the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the alignment. NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 8, has been performed. See MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTARS MENUS, page 8, for a description of how Autostars keys operate. Easy Two-Star Alignment Procedure: 1. Sun Warning: Press the key prompted by Autostar to acknowledge that the warning was read and understood. 2. Getting Started: Press ENTER to continue, or the Speed/? key to access the Autostar Help tutorial. Press MODE to leave the tutorial at any time. 3. Enter Date: If you have not already done so, enter the current date, then press ENTER. 4. Enter Time: If you have not already done so, enter the current time. Select "AM," "PM," or 24-hour clock (blank). Then press ENTER. 5. Daylight Savings: If you have not already done so, select Yes or No, then press ENTER.
6. Select Alignment: Align: Easy displays. Press ENTER. 7. Set Home Position: Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the "Alt/Az" Alignment home position (Altitude-Azimuth or vertical-horizontal). To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position: Level the optical tube and the tripod base so that they are parallel (horizontal) to the ground. See Fig. 8a. Tighten the horizontal and vertical locks to a "firm feel" only. Physically move the telescope so that it points North. Learn the position of Polaris (Fig. 8b), the North star, or use a small pocket compass, to determine which direction is North. Press ENTER. 8. Star Alignment: Autostar then chooses two stars to align upon. When the telescope slews to the first star for alignment, it may not appear in the field of view in the eyepiece. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star is visible and centered N in the eyepiece. The alignment star should be easily recognized and be the brightest star in the area of the sky where the teleFig. 8a: DS Home Position.
scope is pointing. Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for the second alignment star. NOTE: Autostar locates alignment stars based on the date, time, and location entered during Initialization. Alignment stars may change from night to night, and hour to hour. All that is required from the observer is to center the selected stars in the eyepiece using the Arrow keys when prompted. TIP: Another method to find the alignment star if it does not appear in the eyepiece is to perform a "spiral search." If the alignment star is not visible in the eyepiece when the telescope finishes its search, press GO TO and the telescope starts slewing in a spiral pattern at a very slow speed around the search area. Look through the eyepiece and when the object becomes visible, press MODE to stop the spiral search. Use the Arrow keys to center the object.

Speed 6 = 32x = 32 x sidereal (8 arc-min/sec or 0.13/sec) Speed 7 = 16x = 16 x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec or 0.067/sec) Speed 8 = 8x = 8 x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or 0.033/sec) Speed 9 = 2x = 2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008/sec) Speed 1: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another Speeds 2 or 3: Best used for rough centering of an object in the eyepiece. Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enables centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard MA 25mm. Speeds 7, 8, or 9: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a high power eyepiece, such as the standard MA 9mm or higher powers.

AUTOSTAR MENUS

Select Item: Object
Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Planetary Neb. Etc. Star Named SAO Catalog Double Etc. Satellite Select Add Delete Edit User Objects Select Add Delete Edit Landmarks Select Add Delete Identify

Select Item: Event

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset Moon Phases Next Full Moon Next New Moon Next 1st Qtr Next 3rd Qtr Meteor Showers Quadrantids Lyrids Eta Aquarids Delta Aquarids Perseids Orionids Taurids Leonids Geminids Ursids Solar Eclipses Lunar Eclipses Min. of Algol Autumn Equinox Vernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice

Select Item: Guided Tour

Tour Objects Tonight's Best How Far is Far A Star's Life
A. Accretion Disk Etc. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

Select Item: Utilities

Timer Set Start & Stop Alarm Set On & Off Eyepiece Calc. Field of View Magnification Suggest Display Options Sun Warning Getting Started Brightness Adj. Contrast Adj. Battery Alarm Landmark Survey Sleep Scope Park Scope

Select Item: Setup

Align Easy One Star Two Star Date Time Daylight Saving Telescope Tele. Model Focal Length Az/Alt Ratio Train Drive Tracking Rate Reverse L/R Reverse Up/Dn Calibrate Motor High Precision Targets Astronomical Terrestrial Site Select Add Delete Edit Owner Info Download Statistics Reset
Fig. 9: The Autostar Menu Structure.
OBJECT MENU Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (NOTE: Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See GO TO SATURN, page 16, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see USING THE GUIDED TOUR, page 17. Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. An Autostar database is a list of viewable objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of these objects is selected, Autostar moves your telescope (if properly aligned) and points it at the selected object. The Object Menu options include: Solar System is a database of the eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from the Sun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets. Constellation is a database of all 88 Northern and Southern Hemisphere constellations. When this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen, press GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to that star. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest. Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our Solar System such as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and quasars.

Star is a database of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or nearby. Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and geosynchronous orbit satellites. To Observe a Satellite: 1. Choose a satellite from the Select menu, then press ENTER. Autostar scans its database to find if that satellite is expected to pass overhead within the next 6 hours. 2. If a satellite is expected, use the Scroll keys to access a list of data about the pass, including acquisition time, location, etc. 3. At the end of the list is "Alarm." Press ENTER and Autostar automatically sets the alarm to sound several minutes before the scheduled appearance. You may return to regular observations until the alarm goes off. 4. When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite menu and press a Scroll key until the desired satellite is on the top line of the display. 5 Press GO TO. Autostar slews the telescope to where the satellite should appear. The motor drive stops and a countdown starts. NOTE: If the scheduled appearance position of the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by a building,
tree, or hill), press ENTER and Autostar starts to move the telescope along the expected satellite track. When the track clears the obstruction, press ENTER again to pause the telescope, then continue with this procedure. 6. With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the telescope viewfinder (or eyepiece if your telescope does not have an viewfinder) for the satellite to enter the field of view. 7. When the satellite enters the viewfinder field of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts to track with the satellite. 8. Use the Autostar Arrow keys to center the object in the viewfinder, then look through the eyepiece to view the object. Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade web site (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information and instructions on how to download this data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more than one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at the time predicted by Autostar. Requires optional #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 30. NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit, travelling at approximately 17,500 mph. When visible, they move quickly across the sky and are

the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. Autostar calculates minimum magnitude time at mid-eclipse. Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year. Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and date of the winter or summer solstice of the current year. GLOSSARY MENU The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and Autostar functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the Autostar Help function or when reading a scrolling message such as a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is on screen and Autostar goes to the glossary entry for that word. To access directly from the Glossary menu, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry and then press ENTER to read the description. UTILITIES MENU The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within Autostar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites. See TO OBSERVE A SATELLITE, page 20. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose Set or Start/Stop. Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer. When the timer runs out, four beeps sound and the timer is deactivated.
Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose "Set" or "Start/Stop." Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm to sound, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. Start/Stop: Activates the alarm set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the alarm. When the alarm time arrives, Autostar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm. Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which Autostar is connected. Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the field of view is calculated.

Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the magnification is calculated.
Suggest: Autostar calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on the telescope and the object being viewed. Display Options enables or disables Autostars two initial displays. If both displays are disabled, Autostar begins with the Date display. Sun Warning: Turns the Sun Warning message on or off.
Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down Autostar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. With "Sleep Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate the Sleep function. Autostar goes dark, but the internal clock keeps running. Press any key, except ENTER, to re-activate Autostar and the telescope. Park Scope is designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Align the telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope. Next time it is powered up, enter the correct date and time no alignment is required. Pressing ENTER causes the telescope to move to its pre-determined Park position. Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off power. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the "Park Scope" option is chosen and the display prompts you to turn off the telescope's power, Autostar is unable to be returned to operation without turning the power off and then back on. SETUP MENU The Setup menus primary function is to align the telescope (see "ALIGNMENT," page 14). However, there are numerous other features available within the Setup menu, including: Date changes the date used by Autostar. This function is useful to check events in the past or future. For example, set the Date menu for a day three months in the future. Then check the "Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunset time on that date. See EVENT MENU, page 22.
Getting Started: Turns the Getting Started message on or off. Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER. Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER. NOTE: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather. Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a short pause at each location. Press ENTER to start the survey. While a slew is in progress, press any key to skip that object and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe a landmark for a longer period, press MODE when paused on the object to stop the survey. Press ENTER to restart the survey at the first object on the list. See "LANDMARK," page 21.

Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate locations and events. Time may be set to 24-hour mode (military time) by selecting the "blank" option which follows the "AM" and "PM" options. Daylight Saving is used to enable or disable Daylight Savings time. NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by different names in various areas of the world. Check local time to verify. Telescope accesses the several options, including: Telescope Model: Selects the model of telescope connected to Autostar. Focal Length: Displays the focal length of the selected telescope. Az Ratio and Alt Ratio: The Az (Azimuth) ratio and Alt (Altitude) ratio refers to the gears of the telescope's motors. Do not alter these numbers. Train Drive: Trains the Altitude and Azimuth motors to locate objects with more precision. If you are experiencing any problems with pointing accuracy, or performed a Reset, follow the procedure described in TRAINING THE DRIVE, page 13, to insure accurate pointing and tracking. Tracking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tracks targets in the sky.
a. Sidereal: The default setting for Autostar; sidereal rate is the standard rate at which stars move from East to West across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth. b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions. c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates. Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left and Right Arrow keys (i.e., the Right key moves the telescope to the left). Reverse UP/DOWN: Reverses the functions of the Up and Down Arrow keys (i.e., the Up key moves the telescope down). Calibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have a problem, use this option to retest the motors before performing a Reset. This option is also used if an Autostar unit is moved between telescopes, to match Autostar to the new telescope. To calibrate the motors, select this option and press ENTER. High Precision: If High Precision is turned on, when looking for a faint celestial object (i.e., a nebula or galaxy), Autostar first slews to a nearby bright star and displays "ENTER to Sync." Center the star in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescope has a high precision alignment to that part of the sky and it then slews to the object that was originally requested.

Targets switches between Astronomical targets and Terrestrial targets. If "Astronomical" is selected, the telescope tracking motor is activated and any object you observe will remain centered in the eyepiece. If "Terrestrial "is selected, the tracking motor is turned off. To track an object automatically: Set the telescope in the Alt/Az home position (see "EASY TWO-STAR ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE," step #8, page 15), locate an object you wish to observe using the Arrow keys (see page 7), and center the object in the eyepiece. Then select "Targets: Astronomical" and press ENTER. Autostar then automatically slews (moves) the telescope to keep the object centered in the eyepiece. Note that it may take the tracking motors several several seconds to begin tracking and you may need to center the chosen object in the eyepiece again. Site provides access to several options including: Select: Displays the currently selected observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through all available sites (see "Add" below). Press ENTER when the site you wish to select displays. Use this option when you move to a different geographic location. Add: Allows you to add new observing sites to the database (up to six sites may be stored). 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. Delete: Deletes a stored site from the database.
Time Zone Atlantic Eastern Central
Shift -4 Hours -5 Hours -6 Hours
Time Zone Mountain Pacific Hawaii
Shift -7 Hours -8 Hours -10 Hours
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 25. 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.
Owner Info accesses the owner information menu, including:
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 a personal computer or another Autostar. During the operation, the warning Downloading Do Not Turn Off appears. (Requires optional #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 30.)

Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including: Characters Free: Shows how much room is available in user-defined object memory.
TROUBLESHOOTING NOTE: See the telescope instruction manual for additional troubleshooting ideas. The following suggestions may be helpful if there are difficulties with the operation of the Autostar Computer Controller: The Autostar screen does not display any information: Verify that the coil cord is firmly connected to the computer control panel's HBX port (Fig. 1). Verify that the telescope batteries are installed correctly and that they have sufficient charge. Autostar is beeping: The Timer or Alarm function may have been activated (see "Timer" and "Alarm"). Autostar does not slew to the correct object: The telescope mount may not be stable (if mounted with Alt/Az One Star alignment) or the mount has been moved after alignment. Verify the stability and orientation of the telescope and mount, then re-align the telescope (see ALIGNMENT, page 14). The motors may not be properly calibrated. Re-calibrate the motors by choosing the "Select Item: Setup" menu, then scroll to the Telescope option. Press ENTER to choose "Telescope," then scroll to "Calibrate Motors." Press ENTER again and the screen displays "Testing Motors." Re-align the telescope and attempt to observe. If the problem persists, a Reset may be nessary.
Version: Shows the current version of the Autostar software. Reset completely resets Autostar. Autostar requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding with observations. See INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 8. You also need to perform TRAINING THE DRIVE, page 13. GENERAL MAINTENANCE Autostar is a precision electronic instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding observations. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, Autostar rarely, if ever, requires factory servicing or maintenance. Maintenance guidelines include: Do not leave Autostar inside a sealed car on a warm day; excessive ambient temperatures can damage the electronic circuitry. When not connected to a telescope, be sure to store Autostar and the coil cord in a cool dry place, and in such a way as to prevent damage (i.e., in its original packing box). The connectors on the end of the coil cord are fairly rugged and should yield years of use under normal circumstances. Take care when storing the cord so that the connectors do not become crushed or abraded.