Appendix D: Training The Drive - Meade DS-2090 Instruction Manual

APPENDIX D
Training the Drive
Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy prob-
lems. Fig. 32 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure.
Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this
NOTE:
exercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy.
Verify that AUTOSTAR
1
INITIALIZATION is
complete.
Press MODE until
2
Select Item is displayed.
Select Item
3
Object
Press the scroll
up key once.
Select Item
4
Setup
Access the Setup
menu.
Setup
5
Align
Multiple presses.
Setup
6
Telescope
Access the
Telescope menu.
Telescope
7
1
Telescope Model
Multiple presses.
Telescope
8
Train Drive
Choose the Train
Drive option.
Train Drive
9
Az. Train
Azimuth
(horizontal)
training.
Drive Setup
10
For this op. . .
Reminder to
use terrestrial
target.
Center reference
11
object.
Center target
using Arrow
keys.
Fig. 32: Training the Drive Procedure.
Press > until it
12
is centered
Scope slews left.
Bring target back
to center using
the Right Arrow key.
Press < until it
13
is centered
Scope slews right.
Bring target back
to center using
the Left Arrow key.
Train Drive
14
Az. Train
Menu returns to
Az. training.
Train Drive
15
Alt. Train
Altitude
(vertical)
training.
Drive Setup
16
For this op. . .
Reminder to
use terrestrial
target.
Center reference
17
object
Center target
using Arrow
keys.
Press until it
18
is centered
Scope slews down.
Bring target back
to center using
the Up Arrow key.
Press until it
19
is centered
Scope slews up.
Bring target back
to center using
the Down Arrow key.
Train Drive
20
Az. Train
Multiple presses.
MODE
Select Item
21
Object
37
DS-2000 TIPS
This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astron-
omy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies, a
few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up
on. Try looking up some of these topics in the Autostar
glossary.
Also 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? How old
is the Moon and Earth? How old is the Sun?
4. What is a black hole? A neutron star?
5. What are stars made of? Why are stars different col-
ors? What is a white dwarf? A red giant? Have we ever
seen the surface of a star besides our own Sun?
6. What is a nova? A supernova?
7. What are comets? Minor planets? Meteors? Meteor
showers? Where do they come from?
8. What is a planetary nebula? A globular cluster?
9. What is the Big Bang? Is the universe expanding or
contracting, or does it always remain the same?
What is dark matter?
10. What is an extrasolar planet? What is an accretion
(or protoplanetary) disk?
11. What is the difference between an elliptical, a spiral,
and an irregular galaxy?
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 Meade 4M Community
check out www.meade4M.org
And watch Jack Horkheimer, Star Gazer, on your local
PBS station.