Meade DSX Series instruction manual Appendix D, Training the Drive

APPENDIX D

Training the Drive

Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 27 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.
					Scope slews left.
2	Press MODE until				Bring target back
					to center using
	Select Item is displayed.
				ENTER	the Right Arrow key.
	Select Item
			3
	Object
				Press	<	until it
		Press the scroll					13
				is centered
		up key once.
					Scope slews right.
					Bring target back
	Select Item		4	ENTER	to center using
	Setup				the Left Arrow key.
ENTER		Access the Setup		Train Drive
		menu.					14
				Az. Train
	Setup				Menu returns to
			5		Az. training.
	Align
		Multiple presses.		Train Drive
							15
				Alt. Train
	Setup		6	ENTER	Altitude
					(vertical)
	Telescope
					training.
		Access the
				Drive Setup
ENTER		Telescope menu.					16
				For this op. . .
Telescope			7	ENTER	Reminder to
					use terrestrial
	Telescope Model		1
		Multiple presses.			target.
				Center reference
							17
				object
	Telescope		8	ENTER	Center target
	Train Drive				using Arrow
		Choose the Train			keys.
	ENTER			Press	>	until it
		Drive option.					18
				is centered
	Train Drive				Scope slews down.
			9		Bring target back
	Az. Train
					to center using
		Azimuth		ENTER
	ENTER				the Up Arrow key.
		(horizontal)
		training.		Press	>until it
							19
	Drive Setup			is centered
			10
	For this op. . .				Scope slews up.
	ENTER	Reminder to			Bring target back
		use terrestrial		ENTER	to center using
		target.			the Down Arrow key.
	Center reference		11	Train Drive			20
	object.			Az. Train
		Center target
					Multiple presses.
	ENTER	using Arrow		MODE
		keys.
				Select Item			21
				Object

Fig. 27: Training the Drive Procedure.

DSX TIPS

This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. 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 colors? 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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