CATADIOPTRIC-TYPE SET SXD2-VC200L

5.Declination Body Acting as Part of a Counterweight

The massive motor units are placed in the lower part of the declination body so that center of balance of the SXD2 shifts to below the crossing point of the RA and DEC axes. This makes a lower portion of the declination body performs as a counterweight and allows the SXD2 to work with less weight.

Features of STAR BOOK TEN

Large Color LCD screen

The LCD of STAR BOOK TEN is an easy to see 5-inch TFT color liquid-crystal display. Its high-resolution WVGA screen (800×480, 65535 colors) shows you vivid images of stars.

Night Vision

As astronomical observation is done outside at night, the observer' eyes are adjusted to a dark field environment. A bight white light from the screen will reduce night vision and it will be more difficult for the observer to temporarily see in the darkness. The night vision feature illuminates the whole screen in red, if applied, and will limit the brightness to the observer's eyes.

Backlit Keys

All command and direction keys can be backlit in red to let you identify the keys in the dark. The backlit keys can be adjusted or turned off.

High CPU Speed

STAR BOOK TEN has a CPU with 324MHz clock speed which is about 5 times as fast as the CPU of STAR BOOK. This makes star chart screens more vivid and quick to load.

Easy-to-Use Menus

The STAR BOOK TEN allows you to call up menus of celestial objects to target in SCOPE MODE as well as in CHART MODE. In addition, you can choose your target by scrolling the star chart screen in CHART MODE. Frequently used menus are allocated to each of ten keys. This allows you to call up a certain menu directly by hitting a corresponding number key.

Celestial Object Database

STAR BOOK TEN contains more than 270,000 celestial objects, including 258,977 stars from the SAO star catalogue, 109 Messier objects, 7,840 NGC objects and 5,386 IC objects, the sun, moon and planets of our solar system. You can call up objects by its common name if available.

P-PEC

Periodic error corrections you have done to improve tracking accuracy of the mount are saved and retained if you turn off the power. The P-PEC data can be called up next time you use the mount for visual observation and astrophotography.

Chasing Satellite

Entering orbital elements of a satellite allows you to slew to an artificial satellite and track it automatically with STAR BOOK TEN. You can enter the orbital elements of up to 10 satellites directly on the STAR BOOK TEN or via a PC through LAN connection.

Chasing Comet

Entering orbital elements of a comet allows you to slew to a comet and track it automatically with STAR BOOK TEN. You can enter the orbital elements of up to 10 comets directly on the STAR BOOK TEN or via a PC through LAN connection.

User Defined Objects

STAR BOOK TEN can store user defined objects. You can save additional celestial objects and interesting celestial objects that you are planning to photograph. You can enter position data of up to 10 objects directly on the STAR BOOK TEN or via a PC through LAN connection.

Different Tracking Rate

It is possible to change the tracking rate according to the type of object you observe. The motion of the sun, moon, planet or comet can be followed independently of the sidereal rate.

Advanced Alignment Algorithm

An accurate alignment can be achieved with the STAR BOOK TEN by simply choosing two stars at random of over 10 degrees apart from each other. If your additional star for alignment is not suitable to reinforce the accuracy of alignment, the STAR BOOK TEN will distinguish its position data from the appropriate ones with a mark. Thus, the marked position data is not included. If your additional star for alignment is located within 10 degrees, the STAR BOOK TEN will alert you with a dialog box. If you continue the alignment for addition, already existing position data within 10 degrees will be erased. You can enter the position data of up to 20 stars on the STAR BOOK TEN.

Hibernate

STAR BOOK TEN has a large capacity of backup memory where your alignment information can be stored. This allows you to turn off the power of the mount temporarily to save batteries. The mount resumes tracking and "Go To" slewing perfectly when you turn on the power again.

Versatile Display Option

You can customize information of celestial objects displayed on the screen of the STAR BOOK TEN according to your needs of operation. The display of the celestial objects can be limited to the following: 

 Direction Keys 

The direction keys provide a direction of the movement of the AXD equatorial mount for the following modes:-

 P-PEC (Permanent Periodic Error Correction)

Your record of periodic error corrections is retained for the next use after the mount is powered off.

Backlash Compensation 

This allows for smooth tracking of the mount without backlash motion.

Autoguider

This function allows you to perform autoguiding in combination with optional accessories for imaging.

Go To Speed

The speed of automatic Go To slewing can be varied from the maximum 800 times of the sidereal rate to decrease its electricity consumption and the sound of the motor.

Motor Power

This is a power saving option that allows you to minimize the electricity consumptions of the motors according to a less weight loaded.

Mount Type

This option allows you to set up the mount for either easy visual observation or serious astrophotography.

Atmospheric Refraction 

This option allows you to compensate or diminish the affect of the atmospheric refraction to the celestial objects near the horizon.

Cross Over Meridian

The mount has a safety function which allows the optical tube to turn in the opposite direction when the observing object comes to its culmination. However, if you are imaging and plan to do an exposure over the culmination, use this option to change the timing of the reverse motion of the optical tube.

Expansion Slot

STAR BOOK TEN includes an expansion slot. The expansion slot allows you to retrofit an expansion module which functions as autoguider at present. An expansion module for auto-guiding is optional.