Meade ETX-80AT-TC Appendix D Training The Drive, Further Study, Tips For Beginners, Topics, Books

APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE

Train the telescope motors using AutoStar. Perform this procedure after RESET or if you are experiencing any point- ing accuracy problems. Figure 33 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.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Further Study....

This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further

Object

3

studies in astronomy, a few topics are suggested

below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up

some of these topics in AutoStar’s glossary.

Also included below is a small sampling of books, magazines, and organizations that you might find

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.

Setup 6

Telescope

		Access the
ENT	ER	Telescope menu.

Telescope 71 Telescope Model

Multiple presses.

Telescope

8

Train Drive

ENTER			Choose the Train
			Drive option.
Train Drive				9
	Az. Train
ENTER			Azimuth
			(horizontal)
			training.
Drive Setup				10
	For this op. . .
ENTER			Reminder to
			use terrestrial
			target.
Center reference 11
object.
			Center target
E		NTER	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
	ENTER			Center target
				using Arrow
				keys.
		Press		>	until it	18
		is centered
				Scope slews down.
				Bring target back
	ENTER			to center using
				the Up Arrow key.
		Press		> until it		19
		is centered
				Scope slews up.
				Bring target back
	E			to center using
				the Down Arrow key.
		NTER
		Train Drive				20
		Az. Train
	MODE			Multiple presses.
		Select Item				21
		Object

Figure 33: Training the Drive Procedure.

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?

3.What is red shift and blue shift?

4.How are the craters on our Moon formed? How old is the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun?

5.What is a black hole? A quasar? A neutron star?

6.What are stars made of? Why are stars differ- ent colors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant?

7.What is a nova? A supernova?

8.What are comets? Asteroids? Meteors? Meteor showers? Where do they come from?

9.What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster?

10.What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expand- ing or contracting, or does it always remain the same?

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

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