User Manual
18
•The AudioStar Computer Controller provides control
of virtually every telescope function within a compact
handbox. AudioStar has soft-touch 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
AudioStar extremely user friendly.
1 2-Line LCD Display: Provides an interface
between AudioStar 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.
2 ENTER Key: Accesses, in a sequential manner,
the next menu or data level in the AudioStar
database. See MOVING THROUGH AudioStar’S
MENUS, page 10.
NOTE: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or
more and then released, AudioStar 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 27, for more details
about this feature.
3 MODE Key: Returns to the previous menu or
data level in the AudioStar database until the top
level, “Select Item” is reached. The MODE key is
similar to the ESCAPE key on a computer.
Note: Pressing MODE while in the “Select Item”
level moves AudioStar to the topmost screen:
“Select Item: Object”.
If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds
or more, information about the telescope’s
status displays. When the status displays, press
one of the Scroll keys to display the following
information:
• Right Ascension and Declination (astronomical)
coordinates
• Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal)
coordinates
• Date
• Site coordinates
• Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST)
• Timer and Alarm Status
• Battery status
Press MODE again to return to the previous menu.
4 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.
5 Arrow Keys: Slew the telescope in a specic
direction (up, down, left, and right), at any one
of nine different speeds. Speed selection is
explained in “SLEW SPEEDS”, below. The
following functions are also available with the
Arrow keys:
• Moves the telescope – 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.
• Data entry – When the scope is prompting
for user entered data, 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.
6 Number Keys: Input digits 0 - 9 and changes the
slew speeds (see Slew Speeds, see below). The
“0” key also turns on and off the red utility light on
the top of the handbox.
Slew Speeds
LX65 has nine slew speeds that are directly
proportional to the sidereal rate (the rate at
which stars appear to drift across the sky)
and have been calculated to accomplish
specic functions. Pressing a Number key
changes the slew speed, which is shown for
about two seconds on AudioStar’s display.
To change the speed, press the
appropriate key shown below.