SPHINX SXD MOUNT Instruction Manual
Page 2 PREFACE We thank you very much for your purchase one or our series of the Vixen Sphinx (SX) or Sphinx Deluxe (SXD) equatorial mounts for astronomical telescopes. The SX and SXD equatorial mount series feature automatic slewing of celestial objects on the large color LCD screen of the STAR BOOK hand controller and a variety of convenient menus and functions that will help you enjoy your observation of the night sky. This manual describes the functions of all the SX and SXD series mounts.
Page 3 CONTENTS PREFACE WARNING ・ CAUTION CONTENTS BEFORE USE Checking Contents Parts Descriptions Legend on Screen Flow of Operation PREPARATION Inserting the Battery Replacing the Battery SETTING UP Setting Up the Tripod Attaching the Equatorial Mount Installing the Counterweight Attaching the Optical Tube Installing the Finder Scope Installing the Flip Mirror Installing the Eyepiece Balancing the Equatorial Mount Connecting the STAR BOOK Cable Connecting the Power Cord INITIAL SETTING Turning ON the Powe
Page 4 BEFORE USE Checking Contents The SX equatorial mount box (SXC and SXW mount) and the SXD equatorial mount box contain the parts listed below. Make sure that your box contains all these parts. Contents of SXD Contents of SXW Contents of SXC SXD Mount SXW Mount SXC Mount Counterweight 1.9kg Counterweight 1.9kg None* Counterweight 3.
Page 5 Parts Descriptions Safety Screw Decl. Clamp Tube Attachment Base R.A. Axis Dovetail Plate Lock Screw Decl. Cap Set Position Guidepost Decl. Clamp RA Clamp RA Polar Axis Cap (Polar Axis Finder Eyepiece Cover) SXD MOUNT Motor Housing Counterweight Bar Clamp Counterweight Bar Polar Axis Finder SXD Only Altitude Scale Counterweight Lock Screw Counterweight Altitude Adj. Knob (For Polar Alignment) Counterweight Safety Thumb screw Altitude Adj knob (For Polar Alignment) Decl.
Page 6 Descriptions of STAR BOOK Controller 4 " Color LCD Screen Alignment RA+ Zoom In DEC+ Obj Selection RA- Zoom Out DEC- Menu CHART/SCOPE (Change Modes) LAN Port (10Base-T Ethernet) 12 V Power Input (When used as stand alone) MOUNT Connecting Port Auto Guider Port
Page 7 Flow of Operation Take the following steps to use the SX and SXD equatorial mount series. *The SX mount is shown here for explanations.
Page 8 PREPARATION The STAR BOOK controller has a built-in clock, which runs on a CR2032 battery. As the battery is not installed in the STAR BOOK at Vixen’s factory before shipment, insert it when you use the STAR BOOK for the first time. The provided battery is for factory inspection and not designed for long term use. Inserting the Battery Remove the cover of the battery container on the back of the STAR BOOK by taking off the screws with the provided screwdriver as shown in the figure.
Page 9 SETTING UP I Setting up the Tripod Place the tripod on level ground for stable observing. Loosen the extension clamp on the tripod leg so that the tripod leg can be adjusted. Draw out of the tripod leg until it is at the desired height. Tighten the extension clamp to hold the leg securely in place. Installing a Half Pillar (Proceed to the next section if your telescope doesn’t have a half pillar.) (1) Screw the metal peg into the outer screw hole on the top of the half pillar by using a coin.
Page 10 If your telescope has a half pillar Attach the equatorial mount on the half pillar so that the metal peg on the top of the half pillar comes underneath the middle of the two azimuth adjustment knobs. Screw the fixing bolt on the inside of the half pillar to secure the equatorial mount. Then tighten the azimuth adjustment screws.
Page 11 IV Attaching the Optical Tube Loosen the dovetail tube-plate lock screw and the safety screw before you attach the optical tube. Slide the dovetail tube-plate mounted optical tube onto the dovetail mounting platform of the equatorial mount. Tighten the dovetail tube-pate lock screw onto the dovetail tube-plate until snug. Tighten the safety screw. WARNING! Make sure that the dovetail tube-plate is flat against the dovetail mounting block.
Page 12 VI Installing the Flip Mirror *The flip mirror shown here may not be provided for your telescope as a standard accessory. Loosen the two setscrews on the black ring at the end of the drawtube until the tips of these screws no longer extend into the inner diameter of the black ring. Slide the flip mirror as shown in the figure. Tighten the two setscrews on the black ring to hold the flip mirror in place.
Page 13 To balance the equatorial mount in right ascension: Loosen the R.A. clamp while holding the counterweight bar and turn the telescope tube until the DEC axis comes to horizontal as shown in the figure. Loosen the lock screw on the side of the counterweight so that it can be moved to a point where it balances the telescope. It is the point that the telescope remains stationary when the R.A. clamp is loose. Tighten the lock screw on the counterweight to hold it in place. Tighten the R.A.
Page 14 IX Connecting the STAR BOOK Cable Connecting to the Equatorial Mount Plug one end of the STAR BOOK cable where no ferrite core is attached into the controller cable connector of the equatorial mount. Secure the connectors with the screws. WARNING! Never connect the STAR BOOK cable with other equipment such as a PC. It may cause failure, over-heating, or electric shock.
Page 15 INITIAL SETTING I Turning On the Power (1) The power switch is set on the body of the equatorial mount only as shown in the above figure. (2) Confirm the Vixen logo is displayed on the screen of the STAR BOOK for a few seconds when you turn on the power switch. (3) The initial setting screen will be displayed. To turn on the power, press I on the switch.
Page 16 Setting Local Time Enter the date and local time of your observing site by using the on screen soft keys shown at the lower right of the screen. This task is required only the first time you use the STAR BOOK. However, you will need to reset the date and time if you travel from your regular observing site to a different time zone or if you reset your clocks for Daylight Saving time.
Page 17 Setting Location Enter the longitude, latitude, and time zone of your observing site. Once the settings for your location are entered and saved, you don’t need to change them unless you travel more than 15 miles to a different observing location. The longitude and latitude of your observing site can be checked on a map or with a GPS device. The initial location is set at Tokyo. Choose Location with the keys and press Select to enter.
Page 18 In the initial setting screen, move the cursor to OK with the enter. The screen displays a warning on solar observation. keys and press Select to keys and press Select to enter. The After reading the text, choose Confirm with the warning continues on the screen when Not Confirm is chosen. The screen advances to the home position setting as soon as you choose the Confirm key. Do NOT press OK and stay at the home position setting screen.
Page 19 I Moving the Telescope Make sure that the R.A and DEC clamps are tightened. Press the keys to see in what direction the telescope tube moves. The keys move the telescope left and right, and the (The telescope may not move below the horizon.) keys move it up and down. Note: The mount starts driving at sidereal rate (the speed of Earth’s rotation) as soon as the OK key is pressed in the home position setting screen. II Start Out with Terrestrial Viewing Let’s have a look through the telescope.
Page 20 (4) Astronomical telescopes need eyepieces (ocular lenses) to view images. Confirm where on the telescope you insert the eyepiece. This may differ from model to model. Insert a long focal length eyepiece (large number in millimeters, low power) into the eyepiece holder and secure it with the setscrew. (5) Press the keys (the right on-screen soft keys on the STAR BOOK) to point the telescope’s front end toward the target object you choose.
Page 21 The higher the magnification, the larger the object appears. dimmer at high power than at low power. However, the image is Field of view at low power Smaller image but you get a wider field of view and brighter, sharper image. Field of view at high power A large image but you get a narrower field of view and darker, fainter image. Hint 5 Changing the Motor Speed in Home Position The motor speed adjustments are available on the screen of Home Position.
Page 22 (3) Align the optical axis (field of view) of the finder scope with the optical axis (field of view) of the telescope. Adjust the finder scope by loosening or tightening two of three adjustment screws at a time, in turn, until the target is in the same position, in the center of the crosshairs. Each of the finder scopes is pre-adjusted to focus at infinity before shipment from the factory but individual eyesight varies. As a result, it may not be focused at infinity for you.
Page 23 (5) Adjust the dot finder so that the red dot aims at the same target as the telescope by turning the fine adjustment knobs on the dot finder. The knob on the side of the dot finder shifts the red dot in horizontal directions, and the knob on the rear shifts the red dot in vertical directions. (6) Turn the brightness adjusting dial counterclockwise until it clicks to switch off the red dot.
Page 24 Process of Automatic Slewing Setting the Telescope To Home Position Using the STAR BOOK, move the telescope to the home position (initial position of the telescope). The telescope tube is leveled and orientated to point west (in the southern hemisphere, point the telescope tube east). Aligning the Telescope Select celestial objects from the STAR BOOK database as reference points. The first slew from the home position can position the telescope in the vicinity of a target object.
Page 25 (1)Slew the telescope by pressing each of the keys on the STAR BOOK to confirm that the telescope tube moves in the same direction as the corresponding image of the sky. (2)Position the telescope tube so that it is level and pointing toward the west in the northern hemisphere (east in the southern hemisphere) as shown in the figure. (3)Make sure that the embossed home position marks are flush on the mount as shown in the figure on the right.
Page 26 (4) SCOPE MODE and CHART MODE are alternated each time the Chart or GOTO key is pressed. The lower edge of the screen turns red in SCOPE MODE, and turns blue in SCOPE MODE. The current MODE status is shown at the upper left of the screen. In SCOPEMODE, both the screen and telescope move simultaneously with the keys. In CHART MODE, only the screen is scrolled with the corresponding image of the sky. Always use CHART MODE when searching for celestial objects on the screen.
Page 27 (5) SCOPE MODE appears on screen after initialization when the power on the STAR BOOK is turned on. Change it to CHART MODE by pressing the Chart key. CHART should now appear at the upper left of the screen as shown on the right. Center the celestial object that you wish to use as a reference point on the screen with the keys. Using the Zoom+ or Zoom- keys to change the scale of the star chart on the screen will help you to center your reference object correctly.
Page 28 Note: You may not be able to center a reference star exactly in the center of the circle, but it is ok if it is slightly off center. Caution: The telescope moves quickly when automatic slewing starts. Pay attention to its range of motion. The telescope stops immediately when any of the STAR BOOK keys is pressed during automatic slewing. Press any key to stop in emergency. To restart automatic slewing, reselect a reference point to align the telescope.
Page29 - Press the Align key on the STAR BOOK after centering the reference star Vega in the field of view of the telescope. - If “Confirm GOTO” (see page xx) is selected, a dialog box will pop up to let you confirm the alignment. Choose YES and press Select to enter. - A one point alignment is completed. The reference star Vega comes to the center of the target on the screen of SCOPE MODE. (8) Press the Chart key and change the screen to CHART MODE to make the second and additional alignments.
Page 30 Hint 13 In a pair of reference points for alignment (= a pair alignment), two reference points that are located opposite each other will make pointing accuracy worse. Avoid choosing reference points in succession that are more than 90 degrees apart from each other. Hint 14 If you wish to use reference points that are more than 90 degrees apart, first make a pair alignment with reference points that are located within 90 degrees of each other.
Page 31 Press the GOTO key. - As soon as the GOTO key is pressed, CHART MODE changes to SCOPE MODE and the telescope starts automatic slewing. Automatic slewing is completed. - Start viewing with a low power eyepiece. Insert a low power eyepiece and center M57 in the field of view of the telescope’s eyepiece with the keys. Changing the magnification as desired by changing the eyepiece and enjoy the view. Press the Chart key when you wish to move to the next object.
Page 32 - The Messier catalog is displayed. Only those objects above the horizon will be shown. Move the cursor to the target object (M17 here) with the keys and press Select to enter. - Some brief data about this celestial object (M17) is displayed. Choose OK and press Select to enter. If you decide you wish to select a different object, choose Cancel instead to go back to the Messier catalog. - When the GOTO key is pressed, the telescope starts moving to point to the target object (M17).
Page 33 If you wish to choose an object from the IC catalog, move the cursor to the NGC box with the keys and change the display to IC with the Value+, Value- keys. - Some brief data on this celestial object is displayed. Choose OK and press Select to enter. If you decide you wish to select a different object, choose Cancel instead to go back to the NGC/IC catalog. - When the GOTO key is pressed, the telescope starts moving to point to the celestial object NGC7000 (North American nebula) automatically.
Page 34 Completing Observing Turn off the power switch on the SX/SXD mount. Remove the STAR BOOK cable and power cord from the equatorial mount. Remove accessories such as the eyepiece and finder scope. Remove the optical tube. Remove the counterweight and put back the counterweight bar. Remove the equatorial mount from the tripod. Put them back in storage carefully.
Page 36 Chart Setting Press Menu to access system settings. The Menu key is available in both CHART MODE and SCOPE MODE. (1) Press Menu to display the System Menu on the screen. Choose Chart Setting with the keys and press Select to enter. (2) The Chart Setting screen is displayed. Move the cursor with the keys and select your setting preference with the Value+, Value- keys. Choose OK and press Select to enter. A .Chart Mode Choose RADC in order to display a borderless star on the screen with no horizon.
Page 37 C. Const. (Constellation) Names Choose Short in order to show abbreviated constellation names, and choose Long to show the constellations names by full Latin name. Choosing OFF will hide the constellation names. The default setting is OFF. D. Confirm GOTO When set to ON, a confirmation dialog for GOTO will be displayed on the screen before you proceed to SCOPE MODE for automatic slewing. Choose YES to start automatic slewing.
Page 38 Choosing Zoom 1 will display the names when the screen is zoomed in by one step from the minimum zoom position (the largest area displayed). Choosing Zoom 2 will display the names when the screen is zoomed in by two steps from the minimum zoom position (the largest area displayed). Choosing Zoom 3 will display the names when the screen is zoomed in by three steps from the minimum zoom position (the largest area displayed). Example: Using the star chart in Zoom 2.
Page 39 LCD Adjustment Choose LCD Adjust to change the contrast of the screen. (1) Press Menu to display the System Menu. Move the cursor to LCD Adjust with the keys and press Select to enter. (2) Adjust the contrast with the keys and press Select to enter. There is also an LCD adjustment in the initial setting screen right after you turn the power of the STAR BOOK to on. *Save the setting in order for the current settings to apply the next time the STAR BOOK is used.
Page 40 Backlighting Duration Adjustment (Backlight Timer) It is possible to turn off the screen backlight when a certain period of time has passed after keys are pressed. You can set the backlighting duration to remain on between 5 seconds and 300 seconds (after 5 minutes) in 5 second intervals. Choosing Always ON will keep the backlight on at all times. (1) Press Menu to display the System Menu. Choose Backlight with the press Select to enter. keys and (2)The backlight setting screen is displayed.
Page 41 Volume Adjustment Choose Volume to make adjustments of the built-in speaker. (１)Press Menu to display the System Menu. Move the cursor to Volume with the keys and press Select to enter. (2) Turn up (or down) the volume with the enter. keys. Choose OK and press Select to *Save the setting in order for the current settings to apply the next time the STAR BOOK is used. The default setting is “80”. Pressing the key will sound and confirm your setting.
Page 42 Backlash Compensation Backlash is a momentary stoppage in the movement of the telescope due to a sluggish engagement of the gears. It occurs when the direction of the movement is reversed. The backlash does not occur while the telescope moves at constant tracking speed. The backlash compensation can adjust time lag when the direction of the telescope movement is reversed and it allows you to make smoother motor control for comfortable operation.
Page 43 Setting the backlash compensation (1) Press Menu to display the System Menu on the screen. Move the cursor to Backlash Compensation with the keys and press Select to enter. (2) The default values for backlash compensation are set to 0 both in R.A. and DEC.. Move keys and select your setting preference with the Value+, Valuethe cursor with the keys. The values can be set between 0 and 100 both in R.A and DEC. (3) Choose OK and press Select to enter.
Page 44 PEC The Equatorial mount (with drive motors) is designed to precisely track the motion of celestial objects. With the equatorial mount you may notice that stars in the field of view of your telescope are moving back and forth very slowly over a period of time (e.g. 10 minutes for GP2 and GPD2). This is a result of viewing them at very high magnification. It is unavoidable since the equatorial mount is driven via gear wheels. However, it may be annoying when you are observing at high magnification.
Page 45 (4) Choose Rec. Start in the PEC screen and press Select to start recording while you confirm the guide star is in the center of the cross hairs. Continue tracking the guide star until the recoding completes. Since your manual operations are recorded exactly, you need to implement the corrections as precisely as possible. The process takes 8 minutes in full circle. On starting the recording, the screen is automatically zoomed to the maximum.
Page 46 (5) As soon as the 8 minutes PEC recording has elapsed, PEC Play: xxx (numbers) will come out on the screen. From this stage the recorded PEC compensation value will be reproduced. Continuing corrections with the RA+, RA – keys will improve the corrections and will make your tracking accuracy increase further. Stop the PEC recording (1) Press Menu to display the System Menu. Move the cursor to PEC with the and press Select to enter. keys (2) Choose Play Stop (or Rec.
Page 47 Play back the PEC recording Move the cursor to PEC with the keys in the System Menu and press Select to enter. Choose Play PEC in the PEC screen and press Select to play back the PEC recording. The PEC recording is reproduced. The motor control on the mount is set at the slowest rate during the play back of the PEC recording and you cannot slew the telescope with the RA+, RA-, DC+, DC- keys quickly. Cancel the play back if you need to slew the telescope at higher speed.
Page 48 Using the STAR BOOK as a stand alone unit The STAR BOOK has a DC12 V input and connecting with the provided battery box will allow you to use it as a stand alone unit. This is a convenient feature for downloading software updates, downloading comet data or for use as a star chart. *You cannot activate functions relating to the mount drive.
Page 49 Using a PC to enter Orbital Elements for Comets You can connect the STARBOOK to a PC and register orbital elements for comets. The orbital elements for the comets can be obtained from astronomy magazines and from Internet web sites related to astronomy. After installation of the database, you can slew the telescope to the comets automatically. It is not designed to track the comets accurately.
Page 50 (7) Open Internet Explorer. Substitute the information in Internet Explorer’s address bar with the IP address of the STARBOOK. Now the screen below is displayed. (8) As you click on the “Table of the registered comets”, the screen changes to a registration form for inputting orbital elements. If the STARBOOK-S screen is not in SCOPE MODE or CHART MODE, the message below is displayed. Change to the correct screen and re-enter the IP address.
Page 51 (2) Inputting the orbital elements of the comet McNaught here as an example. Code Name Local Name Time of pericentre passage (T) Argument of pericentre (Pen.) Minimum distance from (Q) pericentre Inclination (Inc.) Longitude of the (Node) Ascending node Eccentricity (e) : 2006P1 : McNaught : (for Japanese word) : 2007.1.12.7969 : 155.9755 ° : 0.170729 AU : 77.8349 ° : 267.4147 ° : 1.000022 Epoch = 2007.1.20.
Page 52 Case2: Inputting the orbital elements (using a downloadable file) With the installation of a file for orbital elements which can be obtained from Vixen’s web site, you can easily enter the comet orbital elements into the STARBOOK. (1) As you click on the “Table of the registered comets”, the screen changes to a registration form for inputting orbital elements. (2) Click on the Browse button by the left click and designate the file previously downloaded.
Page 53 Deleting all data of the orbital elements You can delete all data of the orbital element at a time in the initial setting screen just after you turn on the STARBOOK. (1) Turning on the STARBOOK and choose Delete all comet data with the keys and press Select to enter. The dialog box on the right will appear on the screen. (2) Choose YES with the keys and press Select to delete.
Page 54 There are uncertainties in the orbital elements of comets and the comets may reveal unexpected motion. It may fail to bring the target comet at the center of the field of view of your telescope. Automatic slewing to comets (Appointing the comet on the star chart.) (1)Complete the alignment of the telescope so that automatic slewing is ready to start. (2) Focus the telescope on a fixed star with the low magnification eyepiece. (3) In CHART MODE, center the comet on the crosshairs with the keys.
Page 55 How to Update your STARBOOK CAUTION! - Please use new batteries, an AC Adapter or a constant voltage power supply for the STARBOOK for the update. For data transfer make sure that you have a stable power supply for your PC. You may fail to reboot the STARBOOK if the power supply is turned off during the update. In that case, ask your local Vixen dealer for repair (It is chargeable to you). All your data stored in the STARBOOK may be lost after repair.
Page 56 Procedures (for Windows) (1) Download the latest firmware version from STARBOOK updates information to a directory on your PC. (2) Connect the STARBOOK and the PC with the LAN crossover cable. *As for a connection of the LAN cable to the PC, please refer to the instructions for the PC. (3) Turn on the STARBOOK. (4) Turn on the PC. (5) Wait for a period of one minute. The STARBOOK and PC acquire information on networking automatically. (6) In the STARBOOK menu, go into About STARBOOK.
Page 57 If your update is successful, follow the directions below to change settings of the PC (For Windows XP, administrator authorization is required.). Confirming your IP Address (For Windows XP) (1) In windows, select START – CONTROL PANEL – NETWORK CONNECTION OPTION. (2) Select LOCAL AREA CONNECTION and click it. (3) Select the SUPPORT tab. (4) Confirm that your computer’s IP address & Subnet mask numbers are the following:IP Address Subnet mask number : 169.254.a.b. (a, b show random numbers) : 255.
Page 58 (2) On the next screen, click on the button to obtain an IP address automatically. (3) Click on OK on all screens and CLOSE. Wait for a couple of minutes before going to the next step so that the computer and controller can communicate. (4)Go to the procedure (6) in “How to Update your STARBOOK” and follow the directions thereafter.
Page 59 When you use the configuration shown above, The STAR BOOK receives signals from the AGA-1 to guide the telescope. Preparation When you use the AGA-1 AutoGuide Adapter, you will have to change the position of a row of jumper plugs in the STARBOOK. The default setting of the jumper plugs is for the SBIG’s ST series autoguiders. Unplug the STARBOOK from the mount or a power source before you start the following procedures.
Page 60 Before Using (1) Before using the autoguider, make sure to align the mount to the celestial axis (North or South Pole) precisely with the Polar axis scope. (2) Connect the autoguider to the autoguider port of the STAR BOOK. (When you connect SBIG’s autoguider, be sure to switch the power On in order of autoguider, RA motor and STAR BOOK.) (3) Set backlash compensation values to 0 both in RA And DEC. Setting Autoguider (1) Press Menu to display the System Menu.
Page 61 Both the R.A. and DEC. speeds can be adjusted for compensation. The default values are set at 10 (1x speed) in the R.A. and DEC.. Apply smaller compensation values for finer adjustments. The larger the compensation values, the bigger the motions of correction. The values of the compensation can be set between 0 and 20 separately in the R.A. and DEC one by one. 0 1 2 3 : : : 20 keep the celestial rate (no corrections) -0.1/+0.1x of the sidereal rate -0.2/+0.2x of the sidereal rate -0.3/+0.
Page 62 (3) There is an Allen bolt beneath the altitude adjustment clamp. Loosen the Allen bolt with the supplied Allen wrench and remove it. (4) Loosen the altitude adjustment clamp again while securely holding down the SX mount body. (5) Move the SX mount body slowly to shift the range of the altitude adjustment to the high latitude zone or low latitude zone.
