Meade ETX125 Instruction Manual - Page 55

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. ETX TIPS 1 Verify that AUTOSTAR INITIALIZATION is complete. 2 Press MODE until Select Item is displayed. Select Item Object 3 Press the scroll up key once. Select Item Setup 4 Access the Setup ENTER menu. Setup Align 5 Multiple presses. Setup 6 Telescope Access the ENTER Telescope menu. Telescope Telescope Model 71 Multiple presses. Telescope Train Drive 8 Choose the Train ENTER Drive option. Train Drive Az. Train 9 Azimuth ENTER (horizontal) training. Drive Setup For this op. . . 10 Reminder to ENTER use terrestrial target. Center reference object. 11 Center target ENTER using Arrow keys. Press > until it is centered 12 Scope slews left. Bring target back to center using ENTER the Right Arrow key. Press < until it is centered 13 Scope slews right. Bring target back to center using ENTER the Left Arrow key. Train Drive Az. Train 14 Menu returns to Az. training. Train Drive Alt. Train 15 Altitude ENTER (vertical) training. Drive Setup For this op. . . 16 Reminder to ENTER use terrestrial target. Center reference object 17 ENTER Center target using Arrow keys. > Press until it is centered 18 Scope slews down. Bring target back to center using ENTER the Up Arrow key. > Press until it is centered 19 Scope slews up. Bring target back to center using ENTER the Down Arrow key. Train Drive Az. Train 20 Multiple presses. MODE Select Item Object 21 Fig. 53: 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 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 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 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 55