Meade RCX400TM instruction manual Appendix D Training the Drive, Further Study

RCX400 TIPS

APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE

Train the telescope motors using Autostar II. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 55 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.

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.

Object

3

Also included below is a small sampling of books, maga-

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.

Setup6

Telescope

	Access the
ENTER	Telescope menu.

Telescope Telescope Model 71

Multiple presses.

Telescope

8

Train Drive

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

Figure 55: Training the Drive Procedure.

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?

12.Have we discovered proof that water exists any- where else in our solar system?

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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