iOptron SmartStar A-MC90 User manual

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Manual
SmartStarTM-A Series
Refractor, Newtonian and
Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes
www . iOptron . com

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WARNING!
NEVER USE A SMARTSTAR
TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN!
Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant
and irreversible damage to your eye.
Children should always have adult
supervision while observing.

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TIP:
For beginner users
without a lot of
knowledge in astronomy
please refer to the Quick
Start Reference. It
contains enough
information to get you
started so you can enjoy
the night sky without
knowing all the jargon
and math.
CONTENTS
Chapter. 0 Quick Start Reference
0.1 Assembly
0.2 GoToNovaTM Features
0.3 Getting Started
Chapter. 1 Set Up And Align
1.1 Basic Symbols
1.2 Set Up
1.3 Align
Chapter. 2 Select And Slew
2.1 Planets, sun, moon
2.2 Deep Sky Objects
2.3 Comets
2.4 Asteroids
2.5 Stars
2.6 User Objects
2.7 Enter Position
2.8 Land Marks
2.9 Watch List
Chapter. 3 Other Functions
3.1 Sync To Target
3.2 Electronic Focuser
3.3 PEC option
3.4 Set up tracking
3.5 User objects
3.6 Auto guide
3.7 Park scope
3.8 To park position
3.9 The Equatorial Mode
Chapter. 4 How to Observe
4.1 Observe manually
4.2 Observe using arrow keys
4.3 the Moon
4.4 Tracking
Appendix
A. Menu Structure
B. Messier Catalog
C. Modern Constellations
D. Celestial Coordinates
E. Specifications
F. Products List

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TIP:
Learn some astronomy
basics
For beginner users without a lot of knowledge in
astronomy please refer to the Quick Start Menu. It
contains enough information to get you started so
you can enjoy the night sky without knowing all the
jargon and math.
For more serious users we assume that you know
some astronomy basics in reading this manual.
Please refer to Appendix A for a more detailed
menu structure.

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NOTE:
Make sure that your
telescope is not too
heavy for your mount
Chapter 0 Quick Start Reference
0.1 Assembly
1. Unpack the package, take out all the parts.
2. Set up the tripod(6).
3. Put the mount(5) on the top of tripod(6), hold the
mount with one hand, put the supporting rod(7)
through the hole on the top of tripod with the other
hand, screw and tighten the mount on the top of
tripod(6).
4. Tighten the telescope tube(1) on the dovetail with lock
(2), point the tube upward vertically and tighten the
altitude lock (4).
FIG. 1
1. Telescope tube
2. Dovetail lock
3. Hand held controller
4. Altitude lock

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TIP:
Alt-Az mode is easier to
set up, and easier to
operate. Adjust the
tripod and the mount,
check the bubble on the
mount, make sure it is
horizontal.
NOTE:
A-series can also work
in equatorial mode
TIP:
If you are not using the
AC adaptor, you need
eight AA batteries.
5. Fit the tray (8) to the lower end of the rod (7), also fit
the three indents to the three legs of tripod, tighten
the tray lock (9). To avoid any damage to the tray or
tripod, please do not use excessive strength.
6. Open the cover of battery box on the side of the
mount (below dovetail), install 8 AA batteries (not
included) appropriately. If you are using 12V AC
adapter, plug the connector to the socket on the other
side of the mount (below altitude lock). Connect hand
controller(3) and mount(5) with retractable cable
(provided). You can pick any one of the two sockets
below altitude lock to plug in.
7. Always adjust the tripod to center the bubble in the
circle on the mount. It is important that the tripod stay
horizontal.
FIG.2
5. Mount
6. Tripod
7. Inner support
8. Tray
9. Tray lock

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0.2 GoToNovaTM Features: (8402)
LCD Display
Back
Enter
Up
Right
Down
Left
Speed
Light
Help
Menu
FIG.3

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The 8402 GoToNovaTM hand held controller controls
SmartStarTM A series telescopes. Its user interface is simple
and easy-to-learn, it can automatically move to any of the
50,000 objects stored in the database with the push of a
button.
LCD Display: 8-line big screen, it displays all the information
Back Key: Moves back to the previous screen.
Menu Key: Gets to the Main Menu.
Enter Key: Confirms an input, goes to the next menu, selects
a choice, slews the telescope to a selected object.
Arrow Keys: Moves the cursor, adjusts numerical values,
moves the telescope in a specific direction.
Speed Key: Adjusts the speed.
Light Key: Adjusts the light.
Help Key: For help.
Useful Links
Sky and Telescope
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/
Astronomy
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx
The Hubble Site
http://hubblesite.org/

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TIP:
GPS module makes life a
lot easier, it
automatically sets the
time and location for
you.
TIP:
The controller
automatically skips
those stars below the
horizon of your current
time and location.
0.3 Getting Started
For most beginner users who may not need a lot of
astronomical detail this chapter gives just enough information
to set up the controller. After the easy-to-follow setup you will
be ready to point your telescope to wherever you want in the
night sky.
After assembling the telescope [Refer to our Assembling
Chart] turn on the power button located on the mount. You will
see the iOptron logo displayed for a few seconds. Then you
will see the zero position screen. By default, it works in Alt-Az
mode:
TR.A. 1h36m 2s
TDEC 90°0’ 0”
R.A. 19h52m 5s
DEC 47°31’16” 64X
Lgst 7h52m38s Stop
Alt. 0°0’ 0”
Azi. 0°0’ 0”
2007-07-10 14:25:23 N
When the power is turned on, you will see “G_ON” (GPS
turned on) on the upper right corner of the screen. In about a
minute, after the internal GPS communicate with the
satellites, you will see “G_OK” on the screen, both time and
location are automatically set.
Press MENU button, then you will see this screen:
Select and slew
Sync. To target
Electric Focuser
Set up GOTONOVA
Align
PEC option
Set up tracking
User objects
Auto guide
Park scope
To park position
From the main menu, select “Align”. The system provides
“one-star align” and “two-star align”.
Select “one-star align”. You will see this screen:
Alphard
A 39°43.3′Z 221°20.0′
Center the target then
press “ENTER”2X
Use “UP” and “DOWN” arrow buttons to select a star and
press ENTER. Use SPEED button to select a speed, and use
arrow buttons to center the star in your telescope. Press
ENTER when finished. Now your GoToNovaTM is ready to

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TIP:
Spend some time
familiarizing yourself
with these bright stars in
the night sky
direct you to any location in the night sky (provided that the
object is in the database and above the horizon). Simply
choose any object in the menu and press ENTER. Although
not required, we strongly suggest that you double check your
initial alignment with additional bright objects in the night sky,
For example, in the menu, select “Venus” (if it is indeed in the
sky) and press ENTER. When the motor stops check to see if
Venus is in the center of your eye piece. If your previous
steps were correct, it should be. You may need to make some
minor adjustments to center the object. Otherwise, use “two-
star align”.
What’s Next?
Most beginner users are now ready to explore the night sky
without needing to refer to the manual any further. The
function you will need most is “Select and slew” in the main
menu. From there you can select and explore planets, stars,
galaxies, nebulae, comets, asteroids, etc.-- virtually all of the
most common celestial objects are included.