APPENDIX D
Training the Drive
Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy prob- lems. Fig. 32 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 exercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy.
1 | Verify that AUTOSTAR | Press | > | until it | 12 | |||
INITIALIZATION is | ||||||||
| is centered | |||||||
| complete. |
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| Scope slews left. | |||||
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2 | Press MODE until |
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| Bring target back | ||||
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Select Item is displayed. |
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| ENTER | the Right Arrow key. | ||||||
| Select Item |
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| Object |
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| Press | < | until it |
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| Press the scroll | 13 | |||||
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| is centered | ||||||
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| up key once. |
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| Scope slews right. | |||||
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| Bring target back | |||
| Select Item | 4 | ENTER | to center using | ||||
| Setup | the Left Arrow key. | ||||||
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ENTER | Access the Setup | Train Drive |
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menu. |
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| Az. Train | ||||
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| Setup |
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| Menu returns to | |||
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| Az. training. |
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| Align |
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| Multiple presses. | Train Drive |
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| Alt. Train | ||||
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| Setup |
| 6 | ENTER | Altitude |
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| Telescope |
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| training. |
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| Access the |
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| Drive Setup |
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ENTER | Telescope menu. | 16 | ||||||
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Telescope | 7 | ENTER | Reminder to |
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use terrestrial | ||||||||
| Telescope Model | 1 |
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| Multiple presses. |
| target. |
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| Center reference |
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| object |
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| Telescope | 8 | ENTER | Center target | ||||
| Train Drive | using Arrow | ||||||
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| Choose the Train |
| keys. |
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| ENTER | Press | > | until it |
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| Drive option. | 18 | ||||||
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| is centered | ||||
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| Train Drive |
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| Scope slews down. | ||||
| 9 |
| Bring target back | |||||
| Az. Train |
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| to center using | |||||
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| Azimuth |
| ENTER | ||||
| ENTER |
| the Up Arrow key. | |||||
| (horizontal) |
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| training. |
| Press | >until it |
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| 19 | ||||
| Drive Setup |
| is centered | |||||
| 10 |
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| For this op. . . |
| Scope slews up. | |||||
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| ENTER | Reminder to |
| Bring target back | ||||
| use terrestrial | ENTER | to center using | |||||
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| target. |
| the Down Arrow key. | ||||
| Center reference | 11 | Train Drive | 20 | ||||
| object. |
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| Az. Train | ||||
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| Center target |
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| Multiple presses. | |||||
| ENTER | using Arrow | MODE | |||||
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| keys. |
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| Select Item | 21 | |||
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| Object |
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Fig. 32: Training the Drive Procedure.
DS-2000 TIPS
This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astron- omy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies, a few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up some of these topics in the Autostar glossary.
Also below is a small sampling of books, magazines, 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? How old is the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun?
4.What is a black hole? A neutron star?
5.What are stars made of? Why are stars different col- ors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant? Have we ever seen the surface of a star besides our own Sun?
6.What is a nova? A supernova?
7.What are comets? Minor planets? Meteors? Meteor showers? Where do they come from?
8.What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster?
9.What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expanding or contracting, or does it always remain the same? What is dark matter?
10.What is an extrasolar planet? What is an accretion (or protoplanetary) disk?
11.What is the difference between an elliptical, a spiral, and an irregular galaxy?
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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