User manual MEADE 884 TRIPOD

[. . . ] This apparent motion is not obvious to the unaided eye, but when viewed through a telescope such as an ETX, this motion is rapid indeed. If the motor drive has not been engaged, celestial objects viewed in the telescope eyepiece drift entirely out of the field of view in 15 to 60 seconds, depending on the magnification employed. However, by mounting your telescope and turning on the motor drive, you can counteract the drift of objects in the eyepiece. The two basic types of mounting are: altazimuth (alt/az) and equatorial. [. . . ] 4. ) If you have not already done so, orient the tripod leg (9, Fig. 7) so that it is pointing due North (if the location of Polaris, the North Star, is known, point the telescope directly at Polaris. Observers located in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere must point the telescope due South). 7 and 8. ) The telescope is now equatorially mounted; the tripod must not be moved, or else the alignment will be lost. Instead, use one of the following methods to move the telescope's optical tube to a desired celestial object. (a) Loosen the Horizontal (R. A. ) and/or Vertical (Dec. ) locks (see your telescope Operating Instructions) to permit the optical tube to be freely moved manually. Tighten the locks once you center on the object. (b) With the Horizontal and Vertical locks in their "locked" positions, use the manual slow-motion controls (ETX-90RA models) or the Arrow keys of the Electronic Controller (ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models) to move the optical tube. Note: For most astronomical observing requirements, approximate settings of the telescope's latitude and North-pointing tripod leg (steps 4 and 5, above) are acceptable. Do not allow undue attention to precise equatorial mounting of the telescope to interfere with your enjoyment of the instrument. Using an Equatorially Mounted Telescope Once your telescope is equatorially mounted, the telescope motor drive will keep a celestial object in the telescope eyepiece's field of view. Center a celestial object in the eyepiece. See the appropriate section in your telescope's operating instructions for more information about locating celestial objects. Activate your telescope's motor drive. The telescope now tracks the centered object. ETX-90RA models: The On/Off switch is located on the base of the drive base. This switch must be turned on before the telescope is mounted to the tilt-plate. The telescope will automatically track astronomical objects: see the telescope's operating instructions for details in this regard. Use the telescope's manual slow motion controls to make minor adjustments to keep an object centered. ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models with Electronic Controllers: The On/Off switch is located on the telescope's Computer Control panel. The telescope will automatically track astronomical objects; see the telescope's operating instructions for details in this regard. Use the Electronic Controller's Arrow keys to make minor adjustments to keep the object centered. 3. Fig. [. . . ] For information on the use of your ETX telescope equipped with an Autostar hand controller, consult your telescope's operating instructions. + North Celestial Pole + North Celestial Pole Fig. Note that the tilt-plate is level. Fig. Note that the face of the tilt-plate points North. Fig. Note that the face of the tilt-plate points North. -3- Locating the Celestial Pole Using the North Star (Polaris) to find North is useful in equatorial mounting. [. . . ]