14
Caldwell –
A combination of the best NGC and IC objects
.
Planets -
All 8
planets in our Solar System plus the Sun.
Stars
– A compiled list of the brightest stars from the SAO catalog.
List
– For quick access, all of the best and most popular objects in the NexStar database have been broken down
into lists based on their type and/or common name:
Alignment Stars
Common name listing of the brightest stars in the sky.
Named Objects
Alphabetical listing of over 50 of the most popular deep
sky objects.
Double Stars
Numeric-alphabetical listing of t
he most visually
stunning double, triple and quadruple star
s
in the sky.
Variable Stars
Select list of the brightest variable stars with the shortest
period of changing magnitude.
Asterism
s
A unique list of some of the most recognizable star
patterns in the sky
.
Info
:
Displays coordinates and useful information about objects selected from the NexStar database.
Tour:
Activates the tour mode, which seeks out all the best objects for a given month and automatically slews the NexStar to
those objects.
Enter:
Pressing Enter allows you to selects any of the NexStar functions and accept entered parameters
.
Undo:
Undo
will
take you out of the current menu and display the previous level of the menu path. Press Undo repeatedly to get
back to a main menu or use it to erase data entered by mistake.
Menu:
Displays the many setup and utilities functions such as tracking rate and user defined objects and many others.
Scroll Keys:
Used to scroll up and down within any of the menu lists.
A double-arrow will appear on the right side of the LCD
when there are sub-menus below the displayed menu. Using these keys will scroll through those sub-menus.
Rate:
Instantly changes the rate of speed of the motors when the direction buttons are pressed.
RS
-
232 Jack
: A
llows use with a computer and software programs like The Sky for point and click slewing.
Hand Control Operation
This section describes the basic hand control procedures needed to operate the NexStar. These procedures are grouped into three
categories: Alignment, Setup and Utilities. The alignment section deals with the initial telescope alignment as well as finding
objects in the sky; the setup section discusses changing parameters such as tracking mode and tracking rate; finally, the last
section reviews all of the utilities functions such as the RS-232 connection, activating the cord wrap feature and backlash
compensation.
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In order for the NexStar to accurately point to objects in the sky, it must first be aligned to two known positions (stars) in the
sky. With this information, the telescope can create a model of the sky, which it uses to locate any object with known
coordinates. There are two ways to align the NexStar with the sky depending on what information the user is able to provide. If
you know the names of two bright, visible stars in the sky, you can use the two-star alignment method; if you do not know the
names of two stars in the sky, you can enter the longitude and latitude (provided in Appendix C) of your observing location and
NexStar will auto-align itself to two stars in the sky for you.
Two Star Alignment
With the two-star alignment method, the NexStar requires the user to know the positions of only two bright stars in order to
accurately align the telescope with the sky and begin finding objects. Once the telescope is powered on, the LCD display will
guide you through all the steps to align the telescope properly. Before the telescope is ready to be aligned, it should be set up in
an outside location with all accessories (eyepiece, diagonal and Star Pointer) attached and lens cover removed as described in the
Assembly section of the manual. Here is an overview of the alignment procedure:
1. Once the NexStar is powered on , Press
ENTER
to begin alignment.
2. Use the Up and Down scroll keys to select
Two Star Align
Two Star AlignTwo Star Align
Two Star Align
, and press ENTER.
3.
The NexStar display will ask you
to move the telescope tube until it is horizontal to the ground. To do this, use the
direction keys (3) to move the telescope until it is roughly level with the ground. Press ENTER.
4.
The
SELECT STAR 1
SELECT STAR 1SELECT STAR 1
SELECT STAR 1
message will appear in the top row of the display. Use the up and down scroll keys (10) to select
the star you wish to use for the first alignment star. Press ENTER.
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