User's Manual

4. Getting Started

In order to experience the full GOTO capability of GOTONOVA

technology it is very important to set

up the mount correctly before observation.

4.1. Setting the Mount and Performing Polar Alignment

Assemble your CEM40 mount according to Section 3.1. Make sure the mount is leveled. Turn the

mount power switch on and wait for GPS receiving satellites’ signal. After GPS connected to the

satellites, the hand controller LCD will display GPS OK and the mount will have the correct time and

site information. This can also be entered manually with GPS disconnected. Make sure that the arrow

of dovetail saddle is pointing to front. Mount an OTA and accessories, and carefully balance the mount

on both R.A. and DEC axes. Perform the polar alignment.

After the mount is powered on, perform MENU => “Zero Position” => “Goto Zero Position” to check

the Zero Position, i.e. with the counterweight shaft pointing to ground, OTA at the highest position with

its axis parallel to the polar axis and the telescope pointing to the Celestial Pole. If the mount is not at

the Zero Position, you may perform Search Zero Position or Set Zero Position to set the Zero

Position.

4.2. Manual Operation of the Mount

The mount can now be used to observe astronomical objects using the HC. Use the arrow keys (►, ◄,

▼, and ▲) to point the telescope to the desired part of the sky. Use the number keys to change the

slewing speed. Press the STOP/0 button to start tracking.

4.3. One Star Alignment

After the mount set up, perform a “One Star Align” to correct the Zero Position discrepancy, or linear

error.

Press MENU => “Alignment” => “One Star Align” to perform “One Star Align.” The hand controller

will display an alignment star. Select a different star using the ▲ or ▼ keys. Then press ENTER. After

the mount slews to the target, use the arrow keys to center it in your eyepiece. Then press ENTER.

(More details on the alignment function are given in section 5.3)

4.4. GOTO the Moon and Other Objects

Now the mount is ready for GOTO operation which, using advanced GOTONOVA

technology, will

automatically slew to, and track, a huge range of celestial targets. We will use the Moon as an example.

Press MENU => “Select and Slew”. Select a category, in this example “Solar System”, and then

select an object of interest, in this case “Moon”. Press ENTER and the telescope will slew to the moon

and automatically start tracking. If the target is not centered in your eyepiece, use the arrow keys to

center it. Then use MENU => “Sync to Target” for better performance.

4.5. Star Identification Function

The 8407+ hand controller has a star identification function. After setting the correct local time and

location and completing polar alignment, slew the telescope to a bright star manually or using the

GOTO function. Press the Help(?) key to identify the star that the telescope is pointing to, as well as

nearby bright stars if there is any.