At 03:43 PM 6/11/00 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>I'm relatively new to this. I have a 12"lx200 and am playing around with
>a new SBIG st-8e. The scope was recently returned to Meade to correct a
>problem. Since I got it back, I've noticed that the scope travels on
>two axes in the three faster speeds, but when I switch to guide speed
>the axes are rotated by about 45 degrees. Is this normal for alt-az
>operation?

Yes, this is normal. I believe it is because in guide mode, it does the
same thing in alt-az that it does in polar... stops or speeds up the RA
drive. In polar mode, this moves the object east or west. However in
alt-az mode it moves the object in a direction dictated by the relative
path of the celestial equator vs. the orientation of the scope axes. I
haven't tested it myself, but try it on a star on the celestial equator and
due south, and see if te movement is directly east-west there.

In any case your scope is behaving normally.


Paul; Goelz
Rochester Hills, MI
Videoastronomy and music (UnFest) web site:
http://www.eaglequest.com/~pgoelz

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