Exploring and Analyzing the Functionality of Meade's Autostar and Audiostar Control Systems: Personal Perspective and Observations

Exploring and Analyzing the Functionality of Meade's Autostar and Audiostar Control Systems: Personal Perspective and Observations

Navigating the Cosmos Made Simple: A Review of Meade's Autostar and Audiostar Handheld Controllers

It's time to embark on an intergalactic journey like never before, with Meade's Autostar and Audiostar handheld telescope controllers! These sleek gadgets are here to transform your stargazing experience, catering to both newbies and experienced astronomy enthusiasts.

Throughout the years, Meade has integrated Autostar and Audiostar into a palette of handheld controllers, each designed to work seamlessly with specific Meade telescope lines. Here are some popular versions you might come across:

1. The Autostar 494, standard with the Meade ETX 80 Backpack Observer.
2. The Autostar 495, included with the Meade DS series.
3. The Autostar 497, an upgrade to the ETX telescope line, found in the late 1990s.
4. The Autostar II, partnered with the Meade LX200 series, boasting an extensive database of over 145,000 celestial objects.
5. The Audiostar, featuring an integrated speaker for educational audio tracks about celestial objects, has a database containing over 30,000 objects.

One desireable aspect of these handheld controllers is that, once you've got the hang of one, all of them operate in a similar fashion – perfect for the on-the-go astronomer! While Audiostar remains the only model with built-in sound capabilities, the fundamental operating functions among all three are quite similar.

Speaking from personal experience, I've owned the ETX 60, ETX 80 AT, ETX 80 Observer, ETX 125 EC, and even had the privilege of using the Meade LX200 14" at the Custer Observatory, and I found it strikingly similar to using my very own ETX scopes.

Known generally as "GoTo" systems, these motor-driven, computer-operated telescopes made their mark in the astro community. Once aligned with the telescope's basic location, the GoTo system can navigate anything in the sky that resides within its vast databases.

Operating the Autostar and Audiostar Systems

As we take a closer look at the operation of these handheld controllers, let's examine the Autostar 497 handset as an example. Rest assured, they all function similarly!

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The handset comprises a 2-line screen, three command keys: Enter, Mode, and GoTo, four direction arrow keys, a 10-keypad for inputting target names or numbers, managing slew speeds, and navigating menus. You'll also find up and down keys for menu navigation, and a handy help key to guide you through any difficulties. Plugged into the telescope, the handset's computer sends commands to the drive motors, effortlessly controlling the telescope's movement.

The software operation is organized into functional groups accessible via menus, devoid of the need for heavy memorization. Here's a breakdown of those groups:

1. Setup: Essential information like date, time, and location is input here to identify your telescope model, adjust daylight savings, and more.
2. Alignment: Choose from several alignment options to optimize your telescope's accuracy in targeting celestial bodies.
3. Object: Select between viewing solar system objects, constellations, deep-sky objects, stars, satellites, and user-defined targets.
4. Guided Tour: A curated list of celestial showcase targets, presented when you don't know what to observe that night.
5. Glossary: Need to understand a term? The glossary is there to clarify any confusion.
6. Utilities: Adjust timer settings, alarms, brightness, and access the eyepiece calculator to determine the magnification provided by your chosen eyepiece.

Mastering the Alignment of Your Controller

Equip your telescope with an accurate alignment to ensure that it can accurately pinpoint celestial objects. The quickest method is as follows:

1. Place your optical tube level and point it north.
2. Power the telescope, and follow the handset's prompts to reach the home position.
3. Choose "Easy Alignment." The handset selects a bright star and moves the telescope towards it.
4. Adjust your telescope's position using the arrow keys until the star is perfectly centered in the eyepiece, then press "Enter."
5. The handset selects a second bright star, guiding the telescope to its position. Again, use the arrow keys to center the star within the eyepiece and hit "Enter."
6. The telescope is now aligned! From this point on, simply enter the object you wish to observe, and the handset will guide your telescope towards it.
7. Make any minor adjustments needed to center the target perfectly within the field of view, and let your Autostar or Audiostar system track the object through the night sky.

In my personal experience, just minutes ago, I set my ETX scope on Jupiter, ran inside for a quick drink, and returned to find Jupiter still within the eyepiece – a testament to the expedient tracking capabilities of these GoTo systems.

Navigating Light-Polluted Skies

The Autostar system can point you towards celestial objects even when the night sky is obscured by light pollution. Thus, in my opinion, the more light pollution you encounter, the more valuable the Autostar system can be.

Diving into the World of Electronically Enhanced Astronomy

Emerging within the realm of astronomy, abbreviated as EAA, is a technique that uses a video camera to replace the eyepiece, capturing light through a process called stacking, yielding images similar to long-exposure astrophotography. With the Autostar system's ability to track celestial objects, you can delve into the realm of astro-imaging with this EAA approach!

1. The Autostar and Audiostar handheld controllers from Meade are intended to revolutionize stargazing, catering to both beginners and advanced astronomy enthusiasts.
2. These handheld controllers, such as the Autostar 494, Autostar 495, Autostar 497, Autostar II, and Audiostar, are designed to work seamlessly with specific Meade telescope lines.
3. Operating the Autostar and Audiostar Systems is straightforward, with similar functionalities among all models, allowing easy transition between different handheld controllers.
4. The Autostar and Audiostar Systems, often referred to as "GoTo" systems, use motor-driven, computer-operated telescopes to navigate celestial objects within their extensive databases.
5. The Autostar handset involves a 2-line screen, command keys, direction arrow keys, a 10-keypad, and utility keys for easy operation.
6. With the Autostar and Audiostar Systems, you can effortlessly track celestial objects, even in light-polluted skies, allowing you to explore deep-sky targets, solar objects, and more using technology in the field of space-and-astronomy.

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