Meade Autostar Instruction Manual

Meade®Deep Sky Imager: The Basics

Once you have connected your camera to the computer and opened the Deep Sky Imager program, you’ll wantto start taking pictures. Follow the steps belo

more...6. An image should be already displayed on the screen (39). Use the focuser onyour telescope to focus the object. Notice that in the Magic Eye

• The live image is displayed on the program’s display screen if the Live box is checked and the Live tab isselected (these are the default settings).

• The Deep Sky Imager program is continually resaving the composite image. If the Save Every CompositeImage box is checked, in the Save Option dialog

1. Insert camera into the telescope as previously described.2. Click on the Live tab (XX).3. Click Auto Exp (3). The program will find a good exposure

1. Insert camera into the telescope as previously described.2. Click on the Live tab (17).3. Set the Live Exp spin button to 1.0 second.4. Click Mono

16. Adjust contrast (21) and shadow enhance (21).17. In the Image Process menu (10), choose “Deep Sky.” Use the default values.18. Once you have a rea

The Parfocal Ring117It is extremely useful to have the Deep Sky Imager camera and a telescope eyepiece be parfocal—it will saveyou time when you need

1. Open the Deep Sky Imager program.2. Insert the Deep Sky Imager camera into the telescope eyepiece holder. Do not tighten the eyepiece holderthumbsc

Gain and Offset sliders (1): Similar to a TV set’s contrast and brightness controls. These controls are automatically set after you pick an Object (10

When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts:• Deep Sky Imager camera• Parfocal ring• USB cable • DB-9 to RJ-11 adapter• LX2

Color sliders. Experiment with these sliders to change to change the image color.Sharp provides a sharper image, but the colors are less Saturated.Sof

Setting Menu (25): Click on the Setting Tab to display the Settingfields. These are field that may be filled in by the user, if so desired.It also con

Object Name (11): Type in a name for the object. Each time the Deep Sky Imager pro-gram begins to accumulate a new composite image, it renumbers the i

Image Acquire Status bars (15): Display while the Deep Sky Imager camera is taking pic-tures. Also a box displays the images format (e.g., jpeg), type

File Open menu (25): Allows you to open a file you have previously created. Click on this button and your direc-tory list displays. Choose the desired

The Magic Eye Focus (22) displays a graphic representation of the focus as you adjustyour telescope’s focuser. The orange triangles “grow” together to

To connect to your telescope, see the printed instruction sheet that was includingwith Autostar Suite.Once the telescope is connected, you may use the

Envisage software allows you to take time-lapse images of an object ofan object. This means you can set the software to take an image, waitand then ta

28Deep Sky Imager Camera ProgramAdvanced Concepts

Drawing a tracking box allows you to track (that is, to follow) a bright spot that is surrounded by a dark area. Thisis very much like your telescope’

The following procedure is also found on the printed Quick Start Guide supplied with this product.Before you can operate the Deep Sky Imager camera, y

The Histogram controls allow you more control of the brightness, contrast and mid-rangetones of your Deep Sky Imager camera.Experiment with these cont

Autoguider and Telescope Controls 131For users familiar with the product, the Deep Sky Imager camera functions in a manner similar to the MeadePictor

Autoguider and Telescope Controls2326. In the “FL IN MM” field (focal length in millimeters), type in the focal length, in millimeters, of your telesc

Other FeaturesCenter Target: Click Center Target to move the yellow circle to the center of the screen. The telescope modelswill follow (some telescop

Dark Frames is a useful feature for if you’re taking exposures longer than 1 second.Longer exposures and temperature can create noise in your Deep Sky

3. Select a value for the Avg Exp box. This is the number of expo-sures that are averaged together to create each composite DarkFrame exposure. Typica

You should become familiar with autoguiding/auto tracking and calibration procedures as described in“Autoguider and Telescope Controls,” page 31.1. Cl

This document and the Meade Autostar IP Software described herein, are copyrighted and are protected from reproduction, proliferation, and disclosure

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To connect the Deep Sky Imager Camera to your PC, you need to install the Deep Sky Imager device driverand connect the USB cable:1. Connect one end of

If the Autostar Suite icon doesn’t appear on your desktop, you can start the Autostar Suite program by going toStart/Program/Meade/Autostar Suite. The

6To connect the Deep Sky Imager camera to an ETX Telescope:• While looking at the back of the telescope, orient the Deep Sky Imager camera into the ey

To open the Deep Sky Imager Imaging program, go to the Image menu of the Planetarium program and selectDeep Sky Imager Imaging.The Deep Sky Imager pro

8Deep Sky Imager Controlscdefghij1)1!1#1$1^1&1*1(2)2!2@2#2$2%2^2&2*3)4)3!3%3$3^3&3*3(3#3@2(b1%1%1@1@

1. Gain and Offset sliders2. Preview and Exposure controls3. Auto Exp (Exposure) controls4. Mono (Black and white) check box5. Live Image check box6.