Meade RCX400TM instruction manual Appendix D Training the Drive, Further Study

Page 67
RCX400 TIPS

APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE

Train the telescope motors using Autostar II. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 55 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure.

Note: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this exer- cise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy.

1Verify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete.

2Press MODE until Select Item is displayed.

Select Item

 

Press

> until it

12

 

 

is centered

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scope slews left.

 

 

Bring target back

 

 

to center using

ENTER

the Right Arrow key.

Further Study....

This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astron- omy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies in astronomy, a few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up some of these in the optional Autostar II glossary.

Object

3

Also included below is a small sampling of books, maga-

Press the scroll up key once.

Select Item

is centered

13

 

 

 

Scope slews right.

Bring target back

to center using

Setup

4

ENTER

the Left Arrow key.

ENTER

Access the Setup

menu.

Train Drive

Az. Train

14

Setup

5

Align

Multiple presses.

Setup6

Telescope

 

Access the

ENTER

Telescope menu.

Telescope Telescope Model 71

Multiple presses.

Telescope

8

Train Drive

ENTER

Choose the Train

Drive option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train Drive

9

 

Az. Train

 

 

 

EN

TER

Azimuth

 

 

(horizontal)

 

 

 

 

 

training.

 

 

 

 

 

Drive Setup

10

 

For this op. . .

 

 

 

ENTER

Reminder to

use terrestrial

 

 

 

 

 

 

target.

 

 

 

Center reference 11

 

object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Center target

ENTER

using Arrow

 

 

 

keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Menu returns to

Az. training.

Train Drive

15

Alt. Train

 

ENTER

Altitude

 

 

 

(vertical)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

training.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drive Setup

16

 

 

 

 

 

For this op. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENTER

Reminder to

 

 

 

use terrestrial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

target.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Center reference 17

 

 

 

object

 

 

 

 

 

 

EN

TER

Center target

 

using Arrow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press

>

until it

18

 

 

 

 

is centered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scope slews down.

 

 

 

 

Bring target back

 

EN

TER

to center using

 

the Up Arrow key.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press

>until it

19

 

 

 

 

is centered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scope slews up.

 

 

 

 

Bring target back

 

ENT

ER

to center using

 

the Down Arrow key.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train Drive

20

 

 

 

 

Az. Train

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MODE

Multiple presses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select Item

21

 

 

 

 

Object

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 55: Training the Drive Procedure.

zines, and organizations that you might find helpful.

Topics

1.How is a star born? How does a solar system form?

2.How is the distance to a star measured? What is a light year? What is red shift and blue shift?

3.How are the craters on our Moon formed? Is there water under the surface of the Moon?

4.What is a black hole? A neutron star? A quark star? A gamma burster? An Einstein lens?

5.What are stars made of? Why are stars different col- ors? How is the elemental composition of a star determined? What is an Lyman Alpha forest?

6.What is the difference between a Type 1 and a Type II supernova?

7.What is the importance of studying the composition of comets? Where do comets come from?

8.How old is our Sun? Will our Sun evolve into a plan- etary nebula or go supernova?

9.What is the Inflationary Big Bang? What is dark mat- ter? What are MACHO's?

10.How are extrasolar planets discovered? What is an accretion (or protoplanetary) disk?

11.What are the differences between elliptical, spiral, and irregular galaxies?

12.Have we discovered proof that water exists any- where else in our solar system?

Books

1.The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack Newton and Philip Teece

2.The Sky: A User’s Guide by David Levy

3.Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis

4.Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael Covington

Magazines

1.Sky & Telescope

Box 9111, Belmont, MA 02178

2.Astronomy

Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187

Organizations:

1.Astronomical League Executive Secretary

5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012

2.The Astronomical Society of the Pacific

390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112

3.The Planetary Society

65 North Catalina Ave, Pasadena., CA 91106

And watch Jack Horkheimer, Star Gazer, on your local PBS station.

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Contents MEADE.COM How to Hot Swap the Autostar II Handbox Focusing the TelescopeContents Hook the Release Pin Tighten the adjustment lockAttach the legs of the tripod to the base Rotate the legMove the optical tube from its shipping position Install the batteriesPosition the mount over the tripod Secure the mount with the T-handleTurn on AutoStar Attach the visual back and diagonal mirrorInsert the eyepiece and remove dust cover Plug in the AutoStar II handboxTighten the R.A. and Dec. Locks To exit the focus operation 1. Press Mode Point and ObserveFan Telescope FeaturesViewfinder close up Base Computer Control Panel see j RCX400 Your Personal Window to the UniverseDefinitions Viewfinder Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Autostar II FeaturesLibrary # of Objects About changing slew RCX400 Tips Getting Started Parts ListingHow to Assemble the Tripod How to Assemble Your TelescopeTo attach the diagonal mirror and the eyepiece To attach AutoStar II and connect the handbox holderAligning the Viewfinder Mounting and Focusing the Viewfinder for the First TimeTo focus the telescope eyepiece PresetsObserving Choosing an EyepieceObserving by Moving the Telescope Manually To define a presetTo select a previously defined focus preset To sync on a focus presetTerrestrial Observing Observing Using Autostar IIs Arrow KeysSlew Speeds Moving Through Autostar II’s Menus Observe the MoonAstronomical Observing To Track an Object AutomaticallyWhich One’s the Alignment Star? Using the Guided Tour Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking FeatureGo To Saturn RCX400 Info Autostar II Navigation Exercise Basic AutostarTo Calculate Sunset time Navigating Autostar Example of Locating a menuSelect Item Object AutostarTo slew the telescope to catalog objects Object MenuDefinition Event MenuUtilities Menu Glossary MenuLook into the Future Setup MenuPage Adding and editing sites? Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, Hot Button Menus To Add a Site to the user-defined site list Adding Observing SitesTo Edit a Site To GO to a user-entered object Creating User ObjectsLandmarks Observing SatellitesTo Add a landmark to the database To check on the available amount of memory in Autostar IdentifyTo Select a landmark from the database To perform a Landmark SurveyDisplayed information Example BrowseEasy Two-Star Alignment How to perform the Easy Align ProcedureAlternate Alt/Az Alignments Initialize AutostarTo Download the Latest Version of Autostar II Software One-Star Alt/Az AlignmentTo Set the Home Position Manually Erase Menu Option Periodic Error CorrectionUpdate Menu Option Train Menu OptionFew tips on photography with the RCX400 telescopes PhotographyPhotography with Meade’s AutoStar Suite Photography with a Digital CameraImage of M13 captured with the Deep Sky Imager Meade Series 4000 Eyepieces Optional AccessoriesSeries 4000 8 24mm Zoom Eyepiece Star Charts Collimation MaintenanceTest your Collimation Defocused star images. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned Follow these steps for collimation of the optical systemInspecting the Optics Meade Customer ServiceGauging the Movement of the Telescope 12 f/8 RCX400 Specifications 10 f/8 RCX400 Specifications14 f/8 RCX400 Specifications Autostar II Handbox Specifications Advanced Autostar II System SpecificationsEquatorial Alignment Setting CirclesCelestial Coordinates Equatorial Wedge Declination Setting CircleLocating Polaris Lining Up with the Celestial PoleRCX400 mounted on an equatorial wedge Precise Polar AlignmentTwo-Star Polar Alignment Autostar II Polar AlignmentEasy Polar Alignment One-Star Polar AlignmentCity Country Latitude Appendix B Latitude ChartLatitude Chart for Major Cities of the World City State/Prov./Country LatitudeComment Line Command LineWhat you will need Tour ModesTitle Writing a TourPick ONE / Pick END Downloading Tours Pick END Auto Slew on / Auto Slew OFFFurther Study Appendix D Training the DriveAppendix E the Moon Menu To observe the Apollo 15 landing site using the Moon optionTraining Appendix FIntroduction OperationOff UpdatePermanently Mounted Scopes Other Menus Options Save As and LoadMoon Basic AstronomyAutostar II Glossary Objects in SpaceDeep-Sky Objects PlanetsPage Meade Limited Warranty

RCX400TM specifications

The Meade RCX400TM is a sophisticated telescope designed for serious astronomers and astrophotographers seeking exceptional performance and innovative features. Combining advanced optics with user-friendly technology, the RCX400TM stands out as a powerful tool for both amateur and experienced stargazers.

At the heart of the RCX400TM is its revolutionary Ritchey-Chrétien optical design. This design minimizes optical aberrations, resulting in sharp, high-contrast images across the field of view. The telescope features a large aperture, typically around 10 inches, which allows for the observation of faint celestial objects, including distant galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae. The high-quality optics ensure that users can capture stunning details and nuances of their targets.

One of the standout characteristics of the RCX400TM is its advanced AutoAlign technology. This feature simplifies the setup process by automatically aligning the telescope to the night sky, enabling users to start observing in a matter of minutes. This is particularly beneficial for beginners or those who prefer a hassle-free experience when setting up for observations.

Additionally, the telescope is equipped with the Meade Smart Drive system, which enhances tracking accuracy and allows for long exposure astrophotography without the worry of trailing or blurring. This system compensates for periodic errors and undergoes continuous monitoring, ensuring that the telescope maintains precise alignment while tracking celestial objects.

The RCX400TM also incorporates an intuitive user interface with a large, easy-to-read LCD display. This interface allows users to access a comprehensive database of celestial objects, making it simple to locate and observe a wide range of astronomical phenomena. With its compatibility with various Meade accessories, such as cameras and filters, the RCX400TM provides flexibility for users looking to expand their astrophotography capabilities.

Durability is another significant aspect of the RCX400TM. Its robust construction ensures that it can withstand various outdoor conditions, making it suitable for both backyard observations and expeditions to remote dark sites.

In summary, the Meade RCX400TM is designed for those who demand high-performance optics, advanced technology, and ease of use. With features like the Ritchey-Chrétien optical design, AutoAlign technology, and the Smart Drive system, it offers a remarkable viewing experience that brings the wonders of the universe closer to all who gaze through its eyepiece. Whether for casual observation or serious astrophotography, the RCX400TM is poised to satisfy the needs of astronomy enthusiasts worldwide.
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