APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE
Train the telescope motors using AutoStar II. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 41 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.
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.
Also included below is a small sampling of books, maga- 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? Can globular clusters be older than the universe itself?
Books
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| 1. | The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack Newton | ||||||
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| and Philip Teece |
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| 2. | The Sky: A User’s Guide by David Levy | ||||||
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| 3. | Turn Left at Orion by Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis | ||||||
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| 4. | Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael | ||||||
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| Covington |
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| 1. | Sky & Telescope | |||
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| 49 Bay St., Cambridge, MA 02138 |
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| 2. | Astronomy | ||||||
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| Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187 |
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| Organizations: | |
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| 1. | Astronomical League |
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| Executive Secretary |
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| 5675 Real del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88012 |
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| 2. | The Astronomical Society of the Pacific | ||||||
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| 390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112 |
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| 3. | The Planetary Society | |
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| 65 North Catalina Ave, Pasadena., CA 91106 |
Figure 45: Training the Drive Procedure. |
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| And watch Jack Horkheimer, Star Gazer, on your local | |||||||||
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| PBS station. | |
- 62 - | Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope |
| at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving. |
