User's Manual
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Two-Star Alignment is identical
to Easy: Align (see EASY (TWO-STAR) ALIGN, Pg. 21), except AudioStar displays a database
of bright stars and two stars are chosen by the user from this database for alignment. It is
recommended that you choose stars with which the user is familiar from this database when
first trying out this method or the One-Star Alignment method.
One-Star Alt/Az Alignment
One-Star Alignment also requires some knowledge of the night sky. One-Star Alignment is
identical to Easy: Align (see EASY (TWO-STAR) ALIGN, Pg. 21), except AudioStar displays a
database of bright stars and one star is chosen by the user from this database for alignment.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The accuracy of One-Star Alt/Az Alignment, unlike the Two-
Star Alignment procedures, depends on how well the user levels the telescope and
how close to North the telescope is pointed when setting the Home Position (Fig.
16). Because the Two-Star Alignment methods use two stars to align upon, they are
more precise than One-Star Alignment.
Go To Saturn
After performing the Easy Align procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the telescope
is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position even
though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once aligned, only use GO TO or the Arrow keys to move the
telescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks (10F, Fig. 1b and 17, Fig. 1), or move
the base manually, or alignment will be lost.
This exercise shows how to select a celestial object (Saturn) for viewing from AudioStar’s
database.
NOTE: Saturn is not visible all the time and you may need to choose another object
from AudioStar’s Object database; however, the procedure, as described below,
remains the same; just choose a different object in step #3.
1 After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item: Object” displays. Press ENTER.
2. “Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.
3. “Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until “Solar System:
Saturn” displays.
4. Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays.
Then “Saturn” and a set of coordinates
displays. Note that Saturn’s (and
other planets’) coordinates change
throughout the year.
5. Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...”
displays and the telescope slews
until it finds Saturn. You may need to
use the Arrow keys to center Saturn
precisely in the eyepiece. AudioStar
then automatically moves the telescope
so that it “tracks” Saturn (or whatever
other object you may have chosen);
i.e., Saturn remains centered in the
eyepiece.
Take a Guided Tour
This example demonstrates using “Tonight’s
Best” Guided Tour.
1. After observing Saturn, press MODE
twice so that “Select Item: Object”
displays again.
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Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun. Do
not look through the telescope as it is moving.
Which One’s the
Alignment Star?
If AudioStar has chosen an alignment star
with which you are unfamiliar, how can you
be sure if the star in your eyepiece is really
the alignment star?
The rule of thumb is that an alignment star is
usually the brightest star in that area of the
sky. When you view an alignment star in an
eyepiece, it stands out dramatically from the
rest of the stars in that portion of the sky.
If you have an obstruction, such as a tree or
a building blocking your view of the alignment
star, or if you have any doubts at all about the
star that has been chosen, no problem. Just
press the Scroll Down key and AudioStar will
find another star to align upon.