The LX50 and 416XT Hints and Tips Page

This page will be devoted to supplying those of you interested in learning
about and in sharing hints and tips on equipment usage and techniques.


 
INDEX

 
DOWNLOADS

Meade Alignment Star List
Astronomy TrueType Fonts

















 

HINTS

Before the Two Star Alignment
Two Star Alignment
Use the SYNC Command
Focusing
The LX-50 Declination Fix Kit
Idiot's Guide to using the 416XT
Using the Pictor 201XT Autoguider

 


 
Have a question that's not answered here? You might want to post a message or just join in on the
general discussions on the LX50  Discussion Groups & Forums!!!

 
HAVE A HINT? SUBMIT IT!!!

 
 
DOWNLOADS

 
Meade's Alignment Star List
File - Magstar.txt   Size - 9KB
All 250 Alignment Stars not
completely documented in the
Magellan II handbook.
Astronomy TrueType Fonts
File - Woolbats.zip Size - 50KB
Astronomy Related Fonts

 
 
LX50 Hints

 
Before the Two Star Alignment: Achieve the best polar alignment possible for use other than visual if you want an accurate alignment with the Magellan II System. I always use the drift method to assure the scope is in excellent alignment with the North Celestial Pole.

 
Two Star Alignment: To achieve a better two star alignment, unfocus the star until it fills your eyepiece field of view. This way, you'll have both stars accurately centered during the two star alignment and the final alignment will be much more accurate.

 
Use the SYNC Command: Always "SYNC" your LX50 to the object you're observing. It will improve the alignment of the scope everytime you shift to a different object. Simply center the current object you're viewing in the eyepiece. Press and hold the ENTER key for one or two seconds, then release. The display on the hand unit will prompt you to center the object and then press enter. Pressing ENTER again will synchronize the Magellan II to the coordinates of that object and improve the accuracy for objects in that area. You can also use stars from the Alignment Star list to improve the accuracy of objects close to that star.

 
Focusing:Visual focusing doesn't seem to be as big a problem as with focusing with the CCD camera, however this mask (see photos below) can be used for splitting double stars and improving contrast with planetary viewing. This mask is adjustable as to the amount of light allowed into the field of view. Simply adding or removing the covers will adjust the light level and increase not only your contrast but your focal ratio as well. The covers are held in place by velco and are red plastic.

 


Focusing with the CCD camera is made easier as there are three images to deal with during the focusing process. All three images will shift toward merging as the focus is refined. When all three images are combined as a single image, the CCD camera is in focus.

 
 

The LX-50 Declination Fix Kit:If you haven't ordered the Dec Fix Kit from Jordan Blessing yet do so!!! It is a must fix or upgrade if you want to do serious work. Below is a photo of the kit as installed on my scope with the new 108 tooth aluminum gear. See the links to Scopetronix.

 


Idiot's Guide to using the 416XT: Chris Heapy put together a very informative page concerning the setup and use of the 416XT. To access his site just click the following... Idiot's Guide. Chris also has an informative site for other telescope related items. You can access this site by clicking on his name or look for it under the links page.

 
 
 
Using the Pictor 201XT Autoguider: By Chris Heapy

The first thing you need to do is to insure focus is correct, assuming you're using a small guidescope for now, pick a magnitude 6 star and an exposure time of 1 second. Take a dark frame (have the 201 powered up for about 20 minutes prior to starting this). With an eyepiece make sure the star image is dead in the middle of the FOV. If you have a Meade 9mm reticle you have a head start because this is near parfocal with the 201XT, otherwise it's guessing time.

Rack the focus slowly until it starts to register sensible numbers, you are aiming for something like 50 @ 5,5. If you get a zero brightness reading within a range of focus positions you have doubtless not got the star on the chip, it's coverage is tiny and missing the chip is easy. You will just have to persevere with this until a particular focus position gives you the highest number for gb. If you seemingly can't get anywhere near focus repeat the operation using a bright star (say, Arcturus). This will be far too bright for the exposure settings but at least it will register even when way out of focus - and you can use the gb number to estimate as you get closer to focus. It will reach the max 99 long before it's focused so you will then have to switch to a dimmer star (if you change exposure time you will need to take another dark frame). Once you have it focused either mark the focuser barrel or (better) make a parfocal eyepiece (about 9mm f/l) to avoid this hassle in future.

A 'hot' pixel will be taken out by the dark frame, but as the 201XT is not cooled you MUST let it reach operating temperature before taking it. Your figures quoted for guide mode are meaningless unless you have a star focussed on the chip. Guide corrections of 91 are moving it the full width of the chip every iteration, guide brightness of 41 without a focussed star image indicate the exposure time is way too long and you're just picking up light pollution (or you didn't take a relevant dark frame).

If you are using an OAG then you will have to get the 'best' focus position you can, the star won't present a nice round image and the 201 may not lock on. It might also be so dim as not to register.
 


 
Back

CCD ASTRONOMICAL IMAGES | tHE LX50 TELESCOPE
ASTRONOMICAL LINKS | CCD IMAGING TIPS | the LX50 YAHOO GROUP
the lx50 discussion forum