User Manual
25
Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then
choose "Set" or "Star
t/Stop."
N
Set:
Enter the time of day for the alarm to sound, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press
ENTER.
N Star
t/Stop
:
Activates the alarm set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON
and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the alarm. When the alarm time
arr
ives, Autostar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm.
Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which
Autostar is connected.
N Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected,
the field of view is calculated.
N Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the
magnification is calculated.
N Suggest: Autostar calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on the tel-
escope and the object being viewed.
Display Options enables or disables Autostar’s two initial displays. If both displays are dis-
abled, Autostar begins with the Date display.
N Sun
Warning:
T
urns the “Sun Warning” message on or off.
N Getting Started: Turns the “Getting
Started” message on or off.
Brightness Adj: Adjusts the brightness of the
display using the Scroll keys. When complete,
press ENTER.
Contrast Adj: Adjusts the contrast of the dis-
play using the Scroll keys. When complete,
press ENTER.
NOTE: This feature is usually
only required in very cold weather.
Beep: Turns the beep on or off.
Sleep Scope is a power saving option that
shuts down Autostar and the telescope with-
out forgetting its alignment. With "Sleep
Scope" selected, press ENTER to activate
the Sleep function. Autostar goes dark, but
the internal clock keeps running. Press any
key, except ENTER, to re-activate Autostar
and the telescope.
Park Scope is designed for a telescope that
is not mo
v
ed between observing sessions.
Align the telescope one time
, then use this
function to par
k the telescope. Next time it is
powered up, enter the correct date and time –
no alignment is required. Pressing ENTER
causes the telescope to move to its pre-deter-
mined Park position. Once parked, the screen
prompts to turn off power.
IMPORTANT
NO
TE:
When the "P
ar
k Scope" option is cho
-
sen and the display prompts you to turn off
the telescope's po
w
er
, Autostar is unable to
be returned to operation without turning the
po
wer off and then back on.
DS-2000 TIPS
Observing Considerations
• Try to pick an observing site away from
street and house lights, and car head-
lights. While this is not always possible,
the darker the site, the better.
• Give your eyes about ten minutes to
adjust to the darkness before observing.
Give your eyes a rest from observing
every ten or fifteen minutes to relieve eye-
strain.
• Try not to use a standard flashlight.
Seasoned observers use red LED flash-
lights or tape red cellophane over their
flashlights for setup and map reading so
the
y don’t ha
ve to continually readjust
their e
y
es to the darkness. Be careful not
to shine br
ight lights if there are other
observers in the area. Never shine a flash-
light into a telescope while someone is
observing!
• Dress warmly. It gets chilly when you’re
sitting for prolonged periods, even on
some summer nights.
•
Practice setting up your equipment during
the da
y or in a lighted area to become
f
amiliar with it before going to a dark site.
• Use your 25mm eyepiece to view terrestri-
al objects and wider areas of space, such
as open star clusters. Use your higher
power eyepieces when you wish to view
something up close, such as craters on
the Moon or the rings of Saturn.
•
Kno
w y
our observing site. If you’re going
to tr
y out an unf
amiliar site, check it out in
the da
ylight f
or obstructions and pitfalls.