34
Observing Satellites
In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass.
1. Go to the "Object: Satellite" menu option and press ENTER.
2. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of satellites.
3. Select a satellite from the list and press ENTER.
4. "Calculating...." and then "Tracking..." displays. If the satellite is going to make a pass,
"Located" displays.
5. Use the Scroll keys to display data about the pass: aos – acquisition of signal and los –
loss of signal. If you subtract the aos from the los, you can calculate how long the satellite
will be visible. Location information also displays.
6. "Alarm" displays after the location information. Press ENTER and Autostar automatically
sets the alarm to sound a minute before the satellite's scheduled appearance. You may
return to regular observations until the alarm goes off.
7. When the alarm goes off, return to the Satellite menu and press a Scroll key until the
desired satellite is on the top line of the display.
8. Press GO TO. Autostar slews the telescope to where the satellite should appear. The
motor drive stops and a countdown is displayed.
NOTE: If the scheduled appearance position of the satellite is obstructed (i.e., by a
building, tree, or hill), press ENTER and Autostar starts to move the telescope
along the expected satellite track. When the track clears the obstruction, press
ENTER again to pause the telescope, then continue with this procedure.
9. With about 20 seconds left on the countdown timer, start watching through the telescope
viewfinder for the satellite to enter the field of view.
10. When the satellite enters the viewfinder field of view, press ENTER. The telescope starts
to track with the satellite.
11. Use the Autostar Arrow keys to center the object in the viewfinder, then look through the
eyepiece to view the object.
Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the
Meade website (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information
and instructions on how to download this data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more than
one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at the time predicted by Autostar.
Downloading requires the optional #506 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 31.
NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit,
travelling at approximately 17,500 mph. When visible, they move quickly across the
sky and are only in the field of view for a few minutes, requiring Autostar to slew the
telescope rapidly. Best viewing is near Sunrise or Sunset when the sky is still dark.
Viewing in the middle of the night can be problematic because the satellite may
pass overhead, but not be visible as it is in the Earth's shadow.
APPENDIX C
