COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE
RATE BUTTON
Pressing the
RATE
key allows you to instantly change the speed rate of the motors from high speed
slew rate to precise guiding rate or anywhere in between. Each rate corresponds to a number on the
Hand Controller key pad. The number 9 is the fastest rate (approximately 4º per second, depending
on power source) and is used for slewing between objects and locating alignment stars. The number
1 on the Hand Control is the slowest rate (2x sidereal) and can be used for accurate centering of ob-
jects in the eyepiece. To change the speed rate of the motors:
> Press the
RATE
key on the Hand Control. The LCD will display the current speed rate.
> Press the number on the Hand Control that corresponds to the desired speed.
The Hand Control has a “double button” feature that allows you to instantly speed up the motors
without having to choose a speed rate. To use this feature, simply press the arrow button that cor-
responds to the direction that you want to move the telescope. While holding that button down, press
the opposite directional button. This will increase the speed to the maximum slew rate.
When using the
UP
and
DOWN
buttons on the NexStar GT, the slower slew rates (6 and lower) move
the motors in the opposite direction than the faster slew rates (7- 9). This is done so that an object
will move in the appropriate direction when looking into the eyepiece (i.e. pressing the up arrow but-
ton will move the star upwards in the field of view of the eyepiece). However, if any of the slower slew
rates (rate 6 and below) are used to center an object in the StarPointer, you may need to press the
opposite directional button to make the telescope move in the correct direction.
SET UP PROCEDURES
The NexStar contains many user defined setup functions designed to give the user control over the
telescope’s many advanced features. All of the set up and utility features can be accessed by press-
ing the
MENU
key and scrolling through the options:
TRACKING MODE
Once the NexStar is aligned, the tracking motors will automatically
turn on and begin tracking the sky. However, the tracking can be
turned off for terrestrial use.
Alt-Az
This is the default tracking rate and is used when the telescope
has been properly aligned.
EQ North
Used
to track the sky when the telescope is polar aligned using
an equatorial wedge in the Northern Hemisphere.
EQ South
Used to track the sky when the telescope is polar aligned using
an equatorial wedge in the Southern Hemisphere.
Off
When using the telescope for terrestrial (land) observation the
tracking can be turned off so that the telescope never moves.
Note: The EQ North and EQ South tracking modes are only needed with telescopes that can
be polar aligned. The NexStar GT series are exclusively Alt-Az mounted telescopes and do
not require equatorial tracking.
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Summary of Contents for NexStar 102 GT 102x1000 AZ
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