Meade ETX80 Instruction Manual - Page 40

APPENDIX D: TRAINING THE DRIVE Train the telescope motors using AutoStar. Perform this procedure after RESET or if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Figure 33 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. 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 Telescope 6 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 object. reference 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 object reference 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 Figure 33: Training the Drive Procedure. TIPS FOR BEGINNERS 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. Try looking up some of these topics in AutoStar's 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? 3. What is red shift and blue shift? 4. How are the craters on our Moon formed? How old is the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun? 5. What is a black hole? A quasar? A neutron star? 6. What are stars made of? Why are stars different colors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant? 7. What is a nova? A supernova? 8. What are comets? Asteroids? Meteors? Meteor showers? Where do they come from? 9. What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster? 10. What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expanding or contracting, or does it always remain the same? 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 40