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56
Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig.
52
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.
Fig. 52: Training the Drive Procedure.
Press > until it
is centered
Press < until it
is centered
Train Drive
Az. Train
Train Drive
Alt. Train
Drive Setup
For this op. . .
Center reference
object
ENTER
ENTER
ENTER
ENTER
Scope slews left.
Bring target back
to center using
the Right Arrow key.
12
13
14
15
16
17
Scope slews right.
Bring target back
to center using
the Left Arrow key.
Menu returns to
Az. training.
Altitude
(vertical)
training.
Reminder to
use terrestrial
target.
Train Drive
Az. Train
Select Item
Object
Press until it
is centered
Press until it
is centered
ENTER
ENTER
MODE
18
19
20
21
Center target
using Arrow
keys.
Scope slews down.
Bring target back
to center using
the Up Arrow key.
Scope slews up.
Bring target back
to center using
the Down Arrow key.
Multiple presses.
ENTER
Select Item
Object
Select Item
Setup
Setup
Align
Setup
Telescope
3
4
6
ENTER
Press the scroll
up key once.
Access the Setup
menu.
Multiple presses.
Access the
Telescope menu.
5
ENTER
1
Telescope
Telescope Model
Telescope
Train Drive
Train Drive
Az. Train
Drive Setup
For this op. . .
Center reference
object.
ENTER
ENTER
ENTER
Multiple presses.
Choose the Train
Drive option.
Azimuth
(horizontal)
training.
7
8
9
10
11
Reminder to
use terrestrial
target.
Center target
using Arrow
keys.
ENTER
Verify that AUTOSTAR
INITIALIZATION is
complete.
Press MODE until
Select Item is displayed.
1
2
>
>
APPENDIX C: TRAINING THE DRIVE
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 looking 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
ETX TIPS