SKY-WATCHER LightChariot 80AR-AZ User manual

LightChariot™
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
8 0 AR- A Z
10 2 AR- A Z
13 0 N - A Z

www.skywatcherusa.com

3
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................5
Warning .................................................................5
ASSEMBLY ..................................................................9
Assembling the LightChariot™..................................................9
AttachingtheMounttotheTripod............................................10
AttachingtheTelescopeTubetotheMount.....................................10
TheDiagonal.......................................................... 11
TheEyepiece.......................................................... 11
Focusing.............................................................12
TheRedDotFinderscope..................................................12
RedDotInstallation...................................................12
RedDotOperation....................................................13
HAND CONTROL .............................................................14
AttachingtheHandControl................................................14
Powering the LightChariot™................................................14
TheHandControl.......................................................14
HandControlOperation ..................................................... 16
AlignmentProcedure ....................................................16
AlignmentProcedure ....................................................16
Astro-Tri-Align.........................................................17
AutoTwo-StarAlign.....................................................19
Two-StarAlignment .....................................................19
One-StarAlign.........................................................20
SolarSystemAlign......................................................21
SynScan™Re-Alignment..................................................21
ObjectCatalog............................................................22
SelectinganObject .....................................................22
SlewingtoanObject.....................................................22
FindingPlanets ........................................................23
TourMode............................................................23
ConstellationTour ......................................................23
DirectionButtons..........................................................24
RateButton...........................................................24
SetUpProcedures.........................................................24
TrackingMode.........................................................24
TrackingRate..........................................................25
ViewTime-Site.........................................................25
UserDefinedObjects....................................................25
GetR.A./DEC .........................................................26
GotoR.A./DEC.........................................................26
Identify..............................................................26
ScopeSetupFeatures.......................................................26
SetupTime-Site.....................................................26
Anti-backlash.......................................................26
Slew Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
FilterLimits........................................................27
DirectionButtons....................................................27
SelectModel.......................................................27
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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UtilityFeatures ...........................................................28
Version...........................................................28
LightControl.......................................................28
FactorySetting .....................................................28
GetAlt-Az.........................................................28
GotoAlt-Az........................................................28
Hibernate .........................................................28
SunMenu.........................................................28
ScrollingMenu......................................................28
TELESCOPE BASICS ..........................................................30
Focusing................................................................30
ImageOrientation .........................................................30
CalculatingMagnification ....................................................30
DeterminingFieldofView....................................................31
GeneralObservingHints..................................................... 31
CELESTIAL OBSERVING........................................................32
ObservingtheMoon........................................................32
LunarObservingHints ......................................................32
ObservingthePlanets.......................................................32
PlanetaryObservingHints....................................................32
ObservingtheSun.........................................................32
SolarObservingHints.......................................................33
ObservingDeepSkyObjects..................................................33
SeeingConditions .........................................................33
Transparency.............................................................33
SkyIllumination...........................................................33
Seeing .................................................................34
TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE.....................................................35
CareandCleaningoftheOptics................................................35
Collimation ..............................................................35
APPENDIX A –TECHNICALSPECIFICATIONS.........................................37
APPENDIX B –GLOSSARYOFTERMS..............................................38
APPENDIX C –RS-232CONNECTION.............................................. 41
APPENDIX D –STANDARDTIMEZONESOFTHEWORLD................................42
SKY MAPS .................................................................43
January-FebruarySkyMap ..................................................43
March-AprilSkyMap ......................................................44
May-JuneSkyMap........................................................45
July-AugustSkyMap ......................................................46
September-OctoberSkyMap.................................................47
November-DecemberSkyMap................................................48
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... continued

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Congratulations on your purchase of the Sky-Watcher USA LightChariot™! The LightChariot™ushers in a whole
new generation of computer automated technology. Simple and friendly to use, the LightChariot™is up and
running after locating just three bright objects. It’s the perfect combination of power and portability. If you
are new to astronomy, you may wish to start off by using the LightChariot™’s built-in Sky Tour feature, which
commands the LightChariot™to find the most interesting objects in the sky and automatically slews to each
one. Or if you are an experienced amateur, you will appreciate the comprehensive database of over 4,000
objects, including customized lists of all the best deep-sky objects, bright double stars and variable stars. No
matter at what level you are starting out, the LightChariot™will unfold for you and your friends all the wonders
of the Universe.
Some of the many standard features of the LightChariot™include:
• Incredible 4°/second slew speed.
• Fully enclosed motors and optical encoders for position location.
• Computerized hand controller with 4,000 object database.
• Storage for programmable user defined objects; and
• Many other high performance features!
The LightChariot™’s deluxe features combined with Sky-Watcher USA’s legendary optical standards give amateur
astronomers one of the most sophisticated and easy to use telescopes available on the market today.
Take time to read through this manual before embarking on your journey through the Universe. It may take a
few observing sessions to become familiar with your LightChariot™, so you should keep this manual handy until
you have fully mastered your telescope’s operation. The LightChariot™hand control has built-in instructions to
guide you through all the alignment procedures needed to have the telescope up and running in minutes. Use
this manual in conjunction with the on-screen instructions provided by the hand control. The manual gives
detailed information regarding each step as well as needed reference material and helpful hints guaranteed to
make your observing experience as simple and pleasurable as possible.
Your LightChariot™telescope is designed to give you years of fun and rewarding observations. However, there are
a few things to consider before using your telescope that will ensure your safety and protect your equipment.
WARNING
INTRODUCTION
• NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE OR WITH A TELESCOPE
(UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER SOLAR FILTER). PERMANENT AND IRREVERSIBLE
EYE DAMAGE MAY RESULT.
• Never use your telescope to project an image of the sun onto any surface. Internal heat
build-up can damage the telescope and any accessories attached to it.
• Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside the
telescope can cause these devices to crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass
through to the eye.
• Never leave the telescope unsupervised, either when children are present or adults who may
not be familiar with the correct operating procedures of your telescope.

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80AR-AZ
L I G H T C H A R I O T 8 0 A R - A Z R E F R A C T O R T E L E S C O P E
1 Eyepiece
2 RedDot Finderscope
3 Optical Tube
4 80mm Objective Lens (inside)
5 Dew Shield
6 910mm Optical Focal Length
7 Mount
8 Battery Pack
9 Accessory Tray
10 Aluminum Tripod
11 SynScan Computer Hand Controller
12 Focuser
13 Diagonal
1
2
3
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
6
4
13

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102AR-AZ
L I G H T C H A R I O T 1 0 2 A R - A Z R E F R A C T O R T E L E S C O P E
1 Eyepiece
2 RedDot Finderscope
3 Optical Tube
4 102mm Objective Lens (inside)
5 Dew Shield
6 600mm Optical Focal Length
7 Mount
8 Battery Pack
9 Accessory Tray
10 Aluminum Tripod
11 SynScan Computer Hand Controller
12 Focuser
13 Diagonal
1
2
3
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
6
4
13

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130N-AZ
L I G H T C H A R I O T 1 3 0 N - A Z R E F L E C T O R T E L E S C O P E
1 Secondary Mirror
2 RedDot Finderscope
3 Eyepiece
4 1.25" Focuser
5 Optical Tube
6 130mm Primary Mirror (inside)
7 650mm Optical Focal Length
8 Accessory Tray
9 Aluminum Tripod
10 SynScan Computer Hand Controller
11 Battery Pack
12 Mount
1
2
3
5
8
9
10
11
12
7
4
6

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Assembling the LightChariot™
Your LightChariot™comes in three major sections: the optical tube, fork arm and the tripod. These
sections can be attached in seconds using the quick release coupling screw located under the tripod
mounting platform. Remove all of the accessories from their individual boxes. Remember to save all
of the containers so that they can be used to transport the telescope. Before attaching the visual
accessories, the telescope tube should be mounted to its tripod. First, install the accessory tray onto
the tripod legs:
1. Remove the tripod from the box and spread the legs apart until the center leg brace is fully
extended.
2. Locate the accessory tray, and place it on top of the tripod center support brace in between the
tripod legs. (FIG. 1)
3. Insert the locking bolt from underneath the tripod support brace and thread it into the hole in the
center of the accessory tray. Do not over tighten.
The accessory tray has a built-on hand control holder protruding from the side. The back of the hand
control has an opening that slides over the clip on the inside of the holder.
It is a good idea to adjust the height of the tripod before attaching the fork arm and tube. Minor
adjustments can be made later. To adjust the height of the tripod legs:
1. Loosen the tripod leg locking bolt located on the side of each leg. (FIG. 2)
2. Slide the inner portion of each leg down 6" to 8" inches.
3. Tighten the tripod locking bolts to hold each leg in place.
ASSEMBLY
FIG. 1
FIG. 2

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Attaching the Mount to the Tripod
With the tripod properly assembled, fork arm can easily be attached using the quick release coupling
screw located underneath the tripod mounting platform:
1. Hold the telescope tube assembly by the fork arm and place the fork arm base inside the tripod
mounting platform.
2. Thread the coupling screw into the hole at the bottom of the fork arm base and hand tighten.
(FIG. 3)
Attaching the Telescope Tube to the Mount
Locate the dovetail bar on the optical tube. Slide the dovetail bar into the clamp on the mount and
tighten it. (FIG. 4)
Your LightChariot™is fully assembled and is ready to attach the accessories.
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
Dovetail bar

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The Diagonal
The diagonal diverts the light at a right angle from the light path of the telescope. For astronomical
observing, this allows you to observe in positions that are more comfortable than if you were to look
straight through (FIG. 4). To attach the diagonal:
1. Turn the thumbscrew on the eyepiece adapter at the end of the focuser barrel until it no longer
extends into (i.e., obstructs) the inner diameter of the focus barrel. Remove the protective dust cap
from the focuser barrel.
2. Slide the chrome portion of the diagonal into the eyepiece adapter.
3. Tighten the thumbscrew on the eyepiece adapter to hold the diagonal in place.
If you wish to change the orientation of the diagonal, loosen the thumbscrew on the eyepiece adapter until
the diagonal rotates freely. Rotate the diagonal to the desired position and tighten the thumbscrew.
The Eyepiece
The eyepiece, or ocular, is the optical element that magnifies the image focused by the telescope. The
eyepiece fits either directly into the focuser or into the diagonal. To install the eyepiece:
For LightChariot™models 80AR-AZ and 102AR-AZ:
1. Loosen the thumbscrew on the diagonal so it does not obstruct the inner diameter of the eyepiece
end of the diagonal. Remove the protective dust cap from the diagonal’s barrel.
2. Slide the chrome portion of the low power 25mm eyepiece (20mm for the LightChariot™model) into
the diagonal.
3. Tighten the thumbscrew to hold the eyepiece in place.
To remove the eyepiece, loosen the thumbscrew on the diagonal and slide the eyepiece out.
FIG. 4
RedDot Finderscope
Eyepiece
Diagonal
Eyepiece Adapter
Focuser
FIG. 5

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For LightChariot™model 130N-AZ:
1. Loosen the thumb screw on the eyepiece adapter at the end of the focuser barrel and remove the
protective dust cap from the focuser barrel.
2. Slide the chrome portion of the low power 25mm eyepiece into the eyepiece adapter.
3. Tighten the thumbscrew to hold the eyepiece in place. (FIG. 6)
To remove the eyepiece, loosen the thumbscrew on the eyepiece barrel and slide the eyepiece out.
Eyepieces are commonly referred to by focal length and barrel diameter. The focal length of each
eyepiece is printed on the eyepiece barrel. The longer the focal length (i.e., the larger the number) the
lower the eyepiece power or magnification; and the shorter the focal length (i.e., the smaller the number)
the higher the magnification. Generally, you will use low-to-moderate power when viewing. For more
information on how to determine power, see the section on “Calculating Magnification.”
Barrel diameter is the diameter of the barrel that slides into the diagonal or focuser. The LightChariot™
uses eyepieces with a standard 1-1/4" barrel diameter.
Focusing
To focus your telescope, simply turn either of the focus knobs at the eyepiece end of the optical tube.
Turn the focus knob until the image is sharp. Once sharp, turn the knob towards you to focus on an
object that is closer than the one you are currently observing. Turn the knob away from you to focus on
a more distant object than the one you are currently observing.
The RedDot Finderscope
The RedDot Finderscope is the quickest and easiest way to point your telescope exactly at a desired
object in the sky (FIG. 7). It’s like having a laser pointer that you can shine directly onto the night
sky. The RedDot Finderscope is a zero magnification pointing tool that uses a coated glass window
to superimpose the image of a small red dot onto the night sky. While keeping both eyes open when
looking through the RedDot Finderscope, simply move your telescope until the red dot, seen through the
RedDot Finderscope, merges with the object as seen with your unaided eye. The red dot is produced by
a light-emitting diode (LED); it is not a laser beam and will not damage the glass window or your eye.
The RedDot Finderscope comes equipped with a variable brightness control, two axes alignment control
and mounting brackets. Before the RedDot Finderscope is ready to be used, it must be attached to the
telescope tube and properly aligned:
RedDot Finderscope Installation
For LightChariot™models 80AR-AZ and 102AR-AZ:
1. Slide the RedDot Finderscope bracket into the dovetail mounting platform on top of the focuser
assembly.
FIG. 6

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2. Orient the RedDot Finderscope so that the sight tube is facing towards the front of the tube.
3. Secure the RedDot Finderscope bracket by tightening the thumb screw on the mounting platform.
For LightChariot™model 130N-AZ:
1. Remove the nuts from the studs where the RedDot Finderscope will mount.
2. Mount the RedDot Finderscope bracket by placing the bracket over the studs protruding from the
tube and tightening it down with the supplied nuts. Orient the RedDot Finderscope so that the
sight tube is facing towards the front of the tube.
RedDot Finderscope Operation
The RedDot Finderscope is powered by a long life 3-Volt lithium battery (#CR2032) located underneath
the front portion of the RedDot Finderscope. Like all finderscopes, the RedDot Finderscope must be
properly aligned with the main telescope before it can be used. This is a simple process using the azimuth
and altitude control knobs located on the side and bottom of the RedDot Finderscope. The alignment
procedure is best done at night since the LED dot will be difficult to see during the day. Note: Before
using the RedDot Finderscope, you must first remove the protective plastic cover over the battery.
1. To turn on the RedDot Finderscope, rotate the variable brightness control clockwise until you here
a “click”. To increase the brightness level of the red dot, continue rotating the control knob about
180º until it stops.
Remember to remove the plastic cover over the battery, and always turn the power off after you have
found an object. This will extend the life of both the battery and the LED.
2. Locate a bright star or planet and center it in a low power eyepiece in the main telescope.
3. With both eyes open, look through the glass window at the alignment star.
If the RedDot Finderscope is perfectly aligned, you will see the red LED dot overlap the alignment
star. If the RedDot Finderscope is not aligned, take notice of where the red dot is relative to the
bright star.
4. Without moving the main telescope, turn the RedDot Finderscope’s azimuth and altitude alignment
controls until the red dot is directly over the alignment star.
If the LED dot is brighter than the alignment star, it may make it difficult to see the star. Turn the
variable brightness control counterclockwise, until the red dot is the same brightness as the alignment
star. This will make it easier to get an accurate alignment. The RedDot Finderscope is now ready to be
used.
FIG. 7
Sight Tube
ON/OFF
Brightness
Control
Dovetail
Tightening
Screws
Altitude
Adjustment
Control
Azimuth
Adjustment
Control
RedDot Finderscope

14
Attaching the Hand Control
The SynScan™computer hand controller has a phone jack type connector at the end of its cord (FIG.8).
Plug the phone jack connector into the outlet at the base of the telescope’s fork arm. Push the connector
into the outlet until it clicks into place and place the hand control into its holder as described previously
in the Assembly section of the manual.
HAND CONTROL
FIG. 8
ALIGN
INFO RATE
1
M
2
CALD 3
MENU
4
NGC
5
PLANET 6
UP
7
STAR
8
0
LIST
TOUR
9
DOWN
UNDO
ENTER
Hand Controller
Outlet
Battery Pack
Outlet
Battery
Pack
Powering the LightChariot™
The LightChariot™can be powered by the supplied battery pack or an optional 12V AC adapter. The
power pack requires 8 user supplied AA size alkaline batteries. To power the LightChariot™, insert the
batteries into the battery pack and plug the round post into the 12V outlet located on the side of the fork
arm (FIG.8). Once the battery pack is plugged in, the LightChariot™will power on and the hand control
will display the message “LightChariot Ready”.
In case of a loss of power, the optical tube can be moved by hand. However, when powered on,
the telescope should always be controlled via the hand control. The LightChariot™will lose its star
alignment if moved by hand when powered on.
The Hand Control
The SynScan™computer hand controller is designed to give you instant access to all the functions the
LightChariot™has to offer (FIG.9). With automatic slewing to over 4,000 objects, and common sense
menu descriptions, even a beginner can master its variety of features in just a few observing sessions.
Below is a brief description of the individual components of the SynScan™computer hand controller:
1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Window: Has a dual-line, 16 character display screen that is backlit
for comfortable viewing of telescope information and scrolling text.
2. Align: Instructs the LightChariot™to use a selected star or object as an alignment position.
3. Direction Keys: Allows complete control of the LightChariot™in any direction. Use the direction
keys to center objects in the RedDot finderscope and eyepiece.
4. Catalog Keys: The SynScan™has a key on the hand control to allow direct access to each of
the catalogs in its 4,000+ object database. The SynScan™contains the following catalogs in its
database:

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Messier – Complete list of all Messier objects.
NGC – Many of the brightest deep sky objects from the Revised New General Catalog.
Caldwell – A combination of the best NGC and IC objects.
Planets – All 8 planets in our Solar System plus the Moon.
Stars – A compiled list of the brightest stars from the SAO catalog.
List – For quick access, all of the best and most popular objects in the LightChariot™
database have been broken down into lists based on their type and/or common name:
Named Stars Common name listing of the brightest stars in the sky.
Named Objects Alphabetical listing of over 50 of the most popular deep
sky objects.
Double Stars Alphabetical listing of the most visually stunning double,
triple and quadruple stars in the sky.
Variable Stars Select list of the brightest variable stars with the shortest
period of changing magnitude.
Asterisms A unique list of some of the most recognizable star patterns
in the sky.
ALIGN
INFO RATE
1
M
2
CALD 3
MENU
4
NGC
5
PLANET 6
UP
7
STAR
8
0
LIST
TOUR
9
DOWN
UNDO
ENTER
FIG. 9SynScan™Computer Hand Controller
2
11
3
1
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12

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5. Info: Displays coordinates and useful information about objects selected from the SynScan™
database.
6. Tour: Activates the tour mode, which seeks out all the best objects for a given month and
automatically slews the LightChariot™to those objects.
7. Enter: Pressing Enter allows you to select any of the SynScan™functions, accept entered
parameters and slew the telescope to displayed objects.
8. Undo: Undo will take you out of the current menu and display the previous level of the menu
path. Press Undo repeatedly to get back to a main menu or use it to erase data entered by
mistake.
9. Menu: Displays the many setup and utilities functions such as tracking rate and user defined
objects and many others.
10. Scroll Keys: Used to scroll up and down within any of the menu lists. A double arrow symbol
on the right side of the LCD indicates that the scroll keys can be used to view additional
information.
11. Rate: Instantly changes the rate of speed of the motors when the direction buttons are
pressed.
12. RS-232 Jack: Allows use with a computer and software programs for point and click slewing
capability.
Hand Control Operation
This section describes the basic hand control procedures needed to operate the LightChariot™. These
procedures are grouped into three categories: Alignment, Setup and Utilities. The alignment section deals
with the initial telescope alignment as well as finding objects in the sky; the setup section discusses
changing parameters such as tracking mode and tracking rate; finally, the last section reviews all of the
utility functions such as adjusting the telescopes slew limits and backlash compensation.
Alignment Procedure
In order for the LightChariot™to accurately point to objects in the sky, it must first be aligned with two
known positions (stars) in the sky. With this information, the telescope can create a model of the sky,
which it uses to locate any object with known coordinates.
Alignment Procedure
In order for the LightChariot™to accurately point to objects in the sky, it must first be aligned to known
positions (stars) in the sky. With this information, the telescope can create a model of the sky, which it
uses to locate any object with known coordinates. There are many ways to align the LightChariot™with
the sky depending on what information the user is able to provide: Astro-Tri-Align™uses your current
date, time and city to create an accurate model of the sky. Then the user can simply point the telescope
to any three bright celestial objects to accurately align the telescope with the sky. Auto Two-Star Align
will ask the user to choose and center the first alignment star, then the SynScan™will automatically
select and slew to a second star for alignment. Two-Star Alignment requires the user to identify and
manually slew the telescope to the two alignment stars. One-Star Align is the same as Two-Star Align
however only requires you to align to one known star. Although not as accurate as the other alignment
methods, One-Star Align is the quickest way to find and track bright planets and objects in Altazimuth
“Altazimuth” or “Alt-Az” refers to a type of mounting that allows a telescope to move in both
altitude (up and down) and azimuth (left and right) with respect to the ground. This is the
simplest form of mounting in which the telescope is attached directly to a tripod.

17
mode. Finally, Solar System Align will display a list of visible daytime objects (planets and the moon)
available to align the telescope. Each alignment method is discussed in detail below.
The first time that the SynScan™is used, it will request information to help identify the model of
telescope. Once powered on, the hand control will display the message Select Model. Use the Up and
Down menu keys (10) to scroll through the different LightChariot™models. Press ENTER when your
LightChariot™model is displayed on the hand control. This information will be retained for future use and
will not be displayed again. If for some reason the incorrect model was selected or you wish to use your
hand control on a different LightChariot™model, the Select Model utility feature allows you to re-select
the proper LightChariot™model from the displayed list (see Select Model later in this section).
Astro-Tri-Align™
Astro-Tri-Align™is the easiest way to get your LightChariot™aligned and ready to observe. Even if you
do not know a single star in the sky, the SynScan™will have you aligned in minutes by asking for basic
information like the date, time and location. Then you simply need to aim the telescope to any three
bright celestial objects in the sky. Since Astro-Tri-Align™requires no knowledge of the night sky it is not
necessary to know the name of the stars at which you are aiming. You may even select a planet or the
moon. The SynScan™is then ready to start finding and tracking any of the objects in its 4,000+ object
database. Before the telescope is ready to be aligned, it should be set up in an outside location with all
accessories (eyepiece, diagonal and finderscope) attached and lens cover removed as described in the
Assembly section of the manual. To begin Astro-Tri-Align™:
1. Power on the LightChariot™by plugging the battery pack into the outlet on the base of the fork
arm.
2. Press ENTER to choose Astro-Tri-Align™. Pressing the ALIGN key will bypass the other alignment
options and the scrolling text and automatically begins Astro-Tri-Align™.
3. The hand control display will then ask for the following time/site information:
Location The SynScan™will display a list of cities to choose from. Choose the city from the database
that is closest to your current observing site. The city you choose will be remembered in the
hand controls memory so that it will be automatically displayed the next time an alignment
is done. Alternatively, if you know the exact longitude and latitude of your observing site,
it can be entered directly into the hand control and remembered for future use as well. To
choose a location city:
• Use the Up and Down scroll keys to choose between City Database and Custom Site.
City Database will allow you to select the closest city to your observing site from a list of
either international or U.S. location. Custom Site allows you to enter the exact longitude
and latitude of your observing site. Select City Database and press ENTER.
• The hand control will allow you to choose from either U.S. or international locations.
For a listing of U.S. locations by state and then by city, press ENTER while United
States is displayed. For international locations, use the Up or Down scroll key to select
International and press ENTER.
• Use the Up and Down Scroll buttons to choose your current state (or country if
International locations was selected) from the alphabetical listing and press ENTER.
• Use the Up and Down Scroll buttons to choose the closest city to your location from the
displayed list and press ENTER.
Time Enter the current time for your area. You can enter either the local time (i.e. 8:00), or you
can enter military time (i.e. 20:00).

18
• Select PM or AM. If military time was entered, the hand control will bypass this step.
• Choose between Standard time or Daylight Savings time. Use the Up and Down scroll
buttons (10) to toggle between options.
• Select the time zone that you are observing from. Again, use the Up and Down buttons
(10) to scroll through the choices. For time zone information, refer to the Time Zone map
in the appendix of this manual.
Date Enter the month, day and year of your observing session. The display will read: mm/dd/yy.
• If the wrong information has been input into the hand control, the UNDO button will
act as a backspace allowing the user to re-enter information.
• The next time that your LightChariot™is aligned, the hand control will automatically
display the last location (either a city or longitude/latitude) that was entered. Press
ENTER to accept these parameters if they still apply. Pressing the UNDO button will
allow you to go back and select a new city location or longitude/latitude.
4. Use the arrow buttons on the hand control to slew (move) the telescope towards any bright celestial
object in the sky. Align the object with the red dot of the finderscope and press ENTER.
5. If the finderscope has been properly aligned with the telescope tube, the alignment star should now
be visible inside the field of view of the eyepiece. The hand control will ask that you center the bright
alignment star in the center of the eyepiece and press the ALIGN button. This will accept the star
as the first alignment position. (There is no need to adjust the slewing rate of the motors after each
alignment step. The SynScan™automatically selects the best slewing rate for aligning objects in both
the finderscope and the eyepiece).
6. For the second alignment object, choose a bright star or planet as far as possible from the first
alignment object. Once again use the arrow button to center the object in the finderscope and press
ENTER. Then once centered in the eyepiece press the ALIGN button.
7. Repeat the process for the third alignment star. When the telescope has been aligned to the final
stars, the display will read “Match Confirmed”. Press UNDO to display the names of the three bright
objects you aligned to, or press ENTER to accept these three objects for alignment. You are now
ready to find your first object.
Tips for Using Astro-Tri-Align™
Remember the following alignment guidelines to make using Astro-Tri-Align™as simple and accurate as
possible.
• Be sure to level the tripod before you begin alignment. The time/site information along with a level
tripod will help the telescope better predict the available bright stars and planets that are above the
horizon.
• Remember to select alignment stars that are as far apart in the sky as possible. For best results
make sure that the third alignment star does not lie in a straight line between the first two stars.
This may result in a failed alignment.
• Don’t worry about confusing planets for stars when selecting alignment objects. Astro-Tri-Align™
works with the four brightest planets (Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars) as well as the Moon. In
addition to the planets, the hand control has over 80 bright alignment stars to choose from (down
to 2.5 magnitude).
• Rarely Astro-Tri-Align™will not be able to determine what three alignment objects were centered.
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This sometime happens when a bright planet or the Moon passes near one of the brighter stars. In
situations like these it is best to try to avoid aligning to either object if possible.
• Be sure to center the objects with the same final movements as the direction of the GoTo Approach.
For example, if the scope normally finishes a GoTo with the front of the scope moving right and up,
you should center all three alignment objects in the eyepiece using the right and up arrow buttons
(the up/down arrows reverse at slew rates of 6 or lower). Approaching the star from this direction
when looking through the eyepiece will eliminate much of the backlash between the gears and assure
the most accurate alignment possible.
Auto Two-Star Align
As with Astro-Tri-Align™, Auto Two-Star Align requires you to enter all the necessary time/site information
as before. Once this information is entered, SynScan™will prompt you to select and point the telescope
at one known star in the sky. The SynScan™now has all the information it needs to automatically choose
a second star that will assure the best possible alignment. Once selected the telescope will automatically
slew to that second alignment star to complete the alignment. With the LightChariot™set up outside with
all accessories attached and the tripod leveled, follow the steps below to align the telescope:
1. Once the LightChariot™is powered on , Press ENTER to begin alignment.
2. Use the Up and Down scroll keys (10) to select Auto Two-Star Align and press ENTER.
3. The hand control will display the last time and location information that was entered into the hand
control. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll through the information. Press ENTER to accept the
current information or press UNDO to manually edit the information (see Astro-Tri-Align™section for
detailed instruction on entering time/site information).
4. The display will now prompt you to select a bright star from the displayed list on the hand control.
Use Up and Down buttons (6 and 9 on the keypad) to scroll to the desired star and then press
ENTER.
5. Use the arrow buttons to slew the telescope to the star you selected. Center the star in the finderscope
and press ENTER. Finally, center the star in the eyepiece and press ALIGN.
6. Based on this information, the SynScan™will automatically display the most suitable second
alignment star that is above the horizon. Press ENTER to automatically slew the telescope to the
displayed star. If for some reason you do not wish to select this star (perhaps it is behind a tree or
building), you can either:
• Press the UNDO button to display the next most suitable star for alignment.
• Use the UP and DOWN scroll buttons to manually select any star you wish from the entire list of
available stars.
Once finished slewing, the display will ask you to use the arrow buttons to align the selected star with the
red dot of the finderscope. Once centered in the finder, press ENTER. The display will then instruct you
to center the star in the field of view of the eyepiece. When the star is centered, press ALIGN to accept
this star as your second alignment star. When the telescope has been aligned to both stars the display
will read “ALIGN SUCCESS”, and you are now ready to find your first object.
Two-Star Alignment
With the two-star alignment method, the SynScan™requires the user to know the positions of two
bright stars in order to accurately align the telescope with the sky and begin finding objects. Here is an
overview of the two-star alignment procedure:

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1. Once the SynScan™is powered on, use the Up and Down scroll keys (10) to select Two-Star Align,
and press ENTER.
2. Press ENTER to accept the time/site information displayed on the display, or press UNDO to enter
new information.
3. The SELECT STAR 1 message will appear in the top row of the display. Use the Up and Down scroll
keys (10) to select the star you wish to use for the first alignment star. Press ENTER.
4. SynScan™then asks you to center in the eyepiece the alignment star you selected. Use the direction
arrow buttons to slew the telescope to the alignment star and carefully center the star in the
finderscope. Press ENTER when centered.
5. Then, center the star in the eyepiece and press ALIGN.
In order to accurately center the alignment star in the eyepiece, you may wish to decrease
the slew rate of the motors for fine centering. This is done by pressing the RATE key (11)
on the hand controller then selecting the number that corresponds to the speed you desire
(9 = fastest , 1 = slowest).
6. SynScan™will then ask you to select and center a second alignment star and press the ALIGN key.
It is best to choose alignment stars that are a good distance away from one another. Stars that are
at least 40º to 60º apart from each other will give you a more accurate alignment than stars that are
close to each other.
Once the second star alignment is completed properly, the display will read Align Successful, and you
should hear the tracking motors turn-on and begin to track.
One-Star Align
One-Star Align requires you to input all the same information as you would for the Two-Star Align
procedure. However, instead of slewing to two alignment stars for centering and alignment, the SynScan™
uses only one star to model the sky based on the information given. This will allow you to roughly slew
to the coordinates of bright objects like the moon and planets and gives the SynScan™the information
needed to track objects in altazimuth in any part of the sky. One-Star Align is not meant to be used to
accurately locate small or faint deep-sky objects or to track objects accurately for photography.
To use One-Star Align:
1. Select One-Star Align from the alignment options.
2. Press ENTER to accept the time/site information displayed on the display, or press UNDO to enter
new information.
3. The SELECT STAR 1 message will appear in the top row of the display. Use the Up and Down scroll
keys (10) to select the star you wish to use for the first alignment star. Press ENTER.
4. SynScan™then asks you to center in the eyepiece the alignment star you selected. Use the direction
arrow buttons to slew the telescope to the alignment star and carefully center the star in the
finderscope. Press ENTER when centered.
5. Then, center the star in the eyepiece and press ALIGN.
6. Once in position, the SynScan™will model the sky based on this information and display “ALIGN
SUCCESSFUL”.
Note: Once a One-Star Alignment has been done, you can use the Re-alignment feature (later in this
section ) to improve your telescope’s pointing accuracy.
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