Meade LX90GPS Appendix C: Training The Drive, Further Study, LX90 TIPS, Topics, Books, Magazines

APPENDIX C: TRAINING THE DRIVE

Train the telescope motors using AutoStar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 33 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure.

NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive.	LX90 TIPS
Complete this exercise once every 3 to 6 months to

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.
E		Access the Setup			Train Drive
		menu.
	NTER							14
					Az. Train
	Setup					Menu returns to
			5			Az. training.
	Align
		Multiple presses.			Train Drive
								15
					Alt. Train
	Setup			EN		Altitude
	Telescope		6		TER	(vertical)
						training.
		Access the
ENTER		Telescope menu.			Drive Setup			16
					For this op. . .
Telescope			7	E	NTER	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.
	E				Press	> until it
		Drive option.
	NTER							18
					is centered
	Train Drive					Scope slews down.
			9			Bring target back
	Az. Train
						to center using
		Azimuth		ENTER
	E					the Up Arrow key.
		(horizontal)
	NTER
		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. 33: Training the Drive Procedure.

Further Study....

This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies in astronomy, a few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on (some of the topics are easy and some are quite challenging). Try look- ing up some of these in the AutoStar glossary.

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?

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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