Product Details
The Vixen STARBOOK-S is a spiffy complement for Vixen GP2, GPD2, and older Great Polaris series equatorial mounts. It incorporates a "GO-TO" controller with a built-in star chart that quickly indicates where the telescope is pointed upon its 2.6" monochrome LCD screen. The STARBOOK-S is equipped with upgradeable software containing a 22,000-object database, giving the user a large variety of heavenly bodies to observe that even includes comets! Through its LAN port and an internet connection, you can always hook up to the Vixen website and add the latest information at any time.
The STARBOOK-S' drop down menu of different categories of celestial objects (stars, planets, Messier objects, NGC objects, etc.) only displays objects that are available to be viewed at the specific time you're observing-eliminating entirely unnecessary frustration produced by other "GO-TO" systems which don't let users know that selected objects are currently below the horizon. With Vixen's STARBOOK-S, your time's spent viewing, instead of endlessly searching.
Out of the box you'll need 4 "AA" and 8 "D" batteries to operate the Starbook-S. Though the controller's "AA" batteries yield 8 hours and are easily found in rechargeable format, the "D" batteries for the included motor drive battery box don't give you much more than a night's observing power. Most users end up using either the #3599 AC adapter or the #8643 Cigarette Lighter Adapter with a Celestron Power Tank instead of the "D" battery box.
• Controller functions much like handheld video games
• Displayed star map controls telescope's slewing speed-pushing button to 'zoom in' on area upon star map causes mount will to accordingly slow down its movement
• Pushing button to select anything upon live star map causes telescope to immediately center upon object
• Advanced encoded motors for accurate and precise tracking
• Auto-guider port and PEC (periodic error correction) ensure availability of celestial objects to be viewed above the horizon
• Hand controller operates upon 4 user-supplied "AA" batteries for ~8 hrs @ 68° (20° C)
• Battery box operates upon 8 user-supplied "D" batteries for ~6 hrs @ 68° (20° C)
