INSTRUCTION MANUAL Orion® IntelliScope® Computerized Object Locator #7880 Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: [email protected] Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 IN 229 Rev. G 01/09 Congratulations on your purchase of the Orion IntelliScope™ Com­ pu ter ized Object Locator. When used with any of the SkyQuest IntelliScope XT Dobsonians, the object locator (controller) will provide quick, easy access to thousands of celestial objects for viewing with your telescope. Coil cable jack The controller’s user-friendly keypad combined with its database of more than 14,000 RS-232 jack celestial objects put the night sky literally at your fingertips. You just select an object to view, press Enter, then move the telescope manually following the guide arrows on the liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. In seconds, the IntelliScope’s high-resolution, 9,216- step digital encoders pinpoint the object, placing it smack-dab in the telescope’s field of Backlit liquid-crystal display view! Easy! Compared to motor-dependent computerized telescopes systems, IntelliScope is faster, quieter, easier, and more power efficient. And IntelliScope Dobs eschew the complex initialization, data entry, or “drive training” procedures required by most other computer- ized telescopes. Instead, the IntelliScope setup involves simply pointing the scope to two bright stars and pressing the Enter key. That’s it — then you’re ready for action! These instructions will help you set up and properly operate your Intelli Scope Com pu ter- ized Object Locator. Please read them thoroughly. Table of Contents 1. Installation . 4 2. Alignment . 7 3. Overview of Controller . 10 4. Locating the Planets.................................... 11 5. Locating Deep-Sky Objects by Catalog . 13 6. Locating Deep-Sky Objects by Object Type .................. 15 7. Locating Stars......................................... 16 Illuminated 8. Tours of the Best Objects ................................ 19 pushbuttons 9. The Identity Function . 19 10. Adding User-Defined Objects............................ 20 11. The FCN Button . 21 User-friendly 12. The “Hidden” Functions . 22 keypad 13. Specifications ........................................ 24 Appendix A: Troubleshooting . 25-26 Appendix B: Alignment Star Finder Charts . 27-30 Appendix C: Constellation Abbreviations ...................... 31 Appendix D: ST Catalog................................. 32-47 Figure 1. The IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator. 2 3 bly. Therefore, the object locator comes Parts List with four nylon washers, but only two are Your IntelliScope™ Computerized Object Locator comes with the following parts: required for installation. Note that two of the washers have a thickness of 1/8th of Qty. Description an inch, while the other two have a thick- 1 Object locator computer (controller) ness of 1/16th of an inch. 1 Altitude encoder assembly If your SkyQuest IntelliScope XT Dobsonian optical tube has side bearings 1 Coil cable Figure 2.5a. If Figure 2.5b. If that appear as in Figure 2.5a, then use the 1 Altitude encoder cable (53" long) your optical tube has your optical tube has two thicker (1/8th of an inch) nylon wash- 1 Azimuth encoder cable (24" long) side bearings that side bearings that ers behind the altitude encoder assembly. look like this, then look like this, then If your SkyQuest IntelliScope XT Dobsonian 6 Wire retaining clips use the two thicker use the two thinner optical tube has side bearings that appear 2 Hook-and-loop strips (1 “hook” strip, 1 “loop” strip) washers. washers. Note the as in Figure 2.5b, then use the two thin- raised circular feature 1 Plastic bumper ner (1/16th of an inch) nylon washers in the center. 3 Wood screws behind the altitude encoder assembly. 2 Nylon washers (1/8" thick) Once installation is complete, you will have two nylon washers left over. Feel free to 2 Nylon washers (1/16" thick) discard these washers, as they will not Altitude encoder be needed for use of the object locator. 1 9-volt battery Modular jack assembly Now, with the screws pushed through the The only tool needed for installation is a Phillips-head screwdriver. Remove the optical encoder board, place a nylon washer on tube from the base to begin installation. the end of each screw (Figure 3). Then, Nylon washers Note: The IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator is only compatible with Orion Sky­ thread the screws into the starter holes Quest XT IntelliScope Dobsonians. If you have another Dobsonian, or any other tele­ in the side panel. The shaft on the alti- scope, the IntelliScope system will not function properly. tude encoder assembly should protrude through the 5/8" through-hole in the side panel. It will take a bit of dexterity to keep 1. Installation the washers on the ends of the screws 1) Install the altitude encoder assembly when installing, so don’t get frustrated if Altitude encoder it takes a couple tries. The screws should onto the base’s right side panel. This is pilot holes the side of the base opposite the side not be fully tightened; they should be tight, Wood screws with the IntelliScope Computerized but not tight enough to prevent the altitude Controller Port. Below the 5/8" through- Figure 3. Place a nylon washer on the end encoder from moving up and down within hole in the panel, there are two pre- of each screw after the screws are pushed the slots in the encoder board. drilled starter holes in the inward-fac- through the altitude encoder assembly. 2) There is a pilot hole above the 5/8 ing surface (Figure 2). Take two of the through hole in the right side panel’s interior supplied wood screws and push them surface; this is where the plastic bumper that through the two slotted holes in the protects the altitude encoder assembly will bottom of the altitude encoder’s com- be installed. Take the remaining wood screw, puter board. The screw heads should push it through the bumper, and thread it into be on the same side as the altitude the pilot hole until tight (Figure 4). encoder’s modular jack. 3) Connect one end of the azimuth encoder Because there are two versions of cable (the shorter of the two cables) to the the side bearings on the SkyQuest Figure 2. The two pilot holes used to mount encoder jack in the top baseplate of the IntelliScope XT Dobsonian optical the altitude encoder assembly are located on Dobsonian base. Connect the other end to tube, we have supplied two sets of two the interior surface of the right side panel of the encoder connector board that should nylon washers to assure best perfor- the-base. be already installed on the base’s left side mance of the altitude encoder assem- Figure 4. Install the bumper into the pilot hole above the altitude encoder assembly. 4 5 panel. The cable should plug into the jack hole in the center of the tube’s side provides a firm mounting for the con- on the left side of the encoder connector bearing. troller at a convenient position for easy Altitude board (see Figure 5). access. The controller can be removed encoder shaft 8) Reinstall the telescope’s retaining knob, 4) Connect one end of the altitude encoder without its black nylon bushing, through from the holster when needed or kept cable to the modular jack on the altitude the altitude encoder’s aluminum shaft in the holster during use. Altitude encoder assembly. Con nect the other end of (now protruding from the right side 11) Slide the battery cover off the back of cable the cable to the jack on the right side of the panel) and into the tube’s side bearing the hand control and insert the 9-volt jack encoder connector board (see Figure 5). (Figure 6). Make sure this knob is fully alkaline battery. Make sure the positive 5) Use the provided wire clips to secure the tightened. and negative terminals of the battery altitude and azimuth cables neatly to the 9) Insert one end of the coil cable into the are oriented as shown in the bottom of base. We recommend using two clips for the larger of the two jacks on the top of the the battery compartment. Replace the (shorter) azimuth cable, and four clips for the IntelliScope controller (Figure 1). Insert battery cover. (longer) altitude cable (Figure 5.5a-b). The the other end into the “IntelliScope Your IntelliScope Computerized Object clips have adhesive backing; simply peel the Computerized Controller Port” on the Locator is now installed and ready to be paper off the back of the clip and press the left side of the Dobsonian base. used. Azimuth adhesive back to the base where you want cable jack the clip to be located. 2. Alignment 6) Place the telescope optical tube into the base. Be very careful not to hit the altitude This section will familiarize you with the encoder with the side bearing on the tube alignment procedure for the IntelliScope when doing this or damage to the encoder system. Figure 5. The azimuth cable plugs into could result. The bumper helps to prevent the jack on the left of the encoder connector such contact. Powering the Controller board. The altitude cable plugs into the jack on To turn the controller on, firmly press the the-right. 7) Reinstall the telescope’s tensioning knob (the one with the Teflon and metal wash- Power button. The LED lights will acti- ers) through the base’s left side panel (the vate and the LCD screen will display its side that has the IntelliScope Computerized introduction message. The intensity of the Controller Port label) and into the threaded Figure 6. The retaining knob now goes illumination can be adjusted by repeat- through the shaft of the altitude encoder edly pressing the Power button.