APPENDIX C: TRAINING THE DRIVE
Train the telescope motors using AutoStar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 53 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.
1Verify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete.
Press > until it | 12 | |
is centered | ||
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Scope slews left. | ||
Bring target back | ||
ETX TIPS
Further Study....
This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies in astronomy, a few
2
Press MODE until Select Item is displayed.
| to center using |
ENTER | the Right Arrow key. |
topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on (some of the topics are easy and some are quite challenging). Try look-
Select Item
ing up some of these in the AutoStar glossary.
Object
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Also included 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? |
Press the scroll up key once.
Select Item
is centered | 13 |
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Scope slews right. | |
Bring target back | |
to center using | |
Setup
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ENTER | the Left Arrow key. |
E | Access the Setup | |
menu. | ||
NTER |
Train Drive
Az. Train
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Setup
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Align
Multiple presses.
Setup6
Telescope
| Access the |
ENTER | Telescope menu. |
Telescope Telescope Model 71
Multiple presses.
Telescope
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Train Drive
ENTER | Choose the Train | |||||
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Train Drive | 9 |
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Az. Train |
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EN | TER | Azimuth |
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Drive Setup | 10 |
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For this op. . . |
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ENTER | Reminder to | |||||
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Center reference 11 |
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object. |
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ENTER | using Arrow | |||||
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Menu returns to
Az. training.
Train Drive | 15 | |
Alt. Train | ||
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ENTER | Altitude |
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ENTER | Reminder to |
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| ENTER | Center target | |||||||
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Fig. 53: Training the Drive Procedure.
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 colors? |
| 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 planetary |
| nebula or go supernova? |
9. | What is the Inflationary Big Bang? What is dark matter? |
| What are MACHO's? |
10. | How are extrasolar planets discovered? What is an accre- |
| tion (or protoplanetary) disk? |
11. | What are the differences between elliptical, spiral and irreg- |
| ular galaxies? Can globular clusters be older than the uni- |
| verse itself? |
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. Visit Jack’s website at: www.jackstargazer.com
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