"[M]: Re: RE: Re: [M] LX200 align/slew" in the Meade Astronomy Archive

Subject: [M]: Re: RE: Re: [M] LX200 align/slew
From: Roy Gillard
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Sat Jun 02 12:26:04 2001

While you're here, how about checking out the Astronomy Book List ?

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Kristofer,
Looking at your original post, I would say that since you are not trackin=
g the moon or stars, your LX200 is in Land mode. You need to change the =
mode to either Altaz or Polar. You mention having a wedge. If this is t=
he case then use Polar mode. You should have no problem following these =
objects, I know I don't. I can come down from the tower, walk to the hous=
e to get something and come back ten minutes later and it's still in the =
ep. For Michael's later post, he says that there may seem to not be any =
real need to set the time/date and location for setup. However, the moon=
and planets' positions are calculated by the LX200 software. So it need=
s to have the time/date and location to compute these. The moon, sun, an=
d planets are not held in a constant position on the celestial sphere. J=
ust my opinion. ;o)) Good Skies!
Roy

----- Original Message -----
From: LaGuardia, Kristofer S.
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 1:38 PM
Subject: [M]: RE: Re: [M] LX200 align/slew

Thank you for the information, and recommendations! Hmm...now I wonder w=
hat site and book you would be referring to? ;) Hehe
-----Original Message----- =20
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 10:41 AM =20
Subject: [M]: Re: [M] LX200 align/slew =20

> Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 10:08:40 -0600 =20
> Subject: [M]: LX200 align/slew =20
> =20
> Last night I did a 1-star alt-az alignment with Vega. My base was =20
level...I =20
> had used my reticule eyepiece to center the star. I slewed to some sta=
rs =20
> and was off some...not sure how much since I'm still new to this... =20
1-star alignment is inherently inaccurate and very much at the mercy of =20
leveling and site data. Do a 2-star alignment and you'll be pleasantly =20
surprised. In my opinion, it was a mistake for them to even offer 1-star=
=20
alignment -- it is a flawed concept. Two stars are necessary (and =20
sufficient) to determine the position of the celestial sphere. =20
> 1) In AltAz mode, does the LX200 track...or automatically slew the scop=
e =20
to =20
> keep up with the object being viewed? =20
Yes, automatically. This is activated as soon as you do your alignment o=
n 1 =20
or 2 stars. =20
> 2) If it does do that, then why use the wedge(I have the Meade =20
Superwedge)? =20
To avoid field rotation in long-exposure photographs; also to get somewha=
t =20
smoother tracking and use periodic error correction (significant for =20
photography, not for visual use). In alt-azimuth mode, the image twists =20
gradually as it tracks because the telescope isn't rotating around the sa=
me =20
axis as the Earth. =20
The other reason to use the wedge is if you are measuring double stars or=
=20
something and need your four slewing directions to be exactly north, sout=
h, =20
east, and west regardless of position in the sky. =20
> i guess I'm getting tired of having to follow the moon with the =20
keypad...and =20
> the stars...or finding a binary pair and running in to get the wife out=
=20
only =20
> to have to find it again. =20
Tracking the Moon is inherently complicated because there's parallax as w=
ell =20
as orbital motion. Few if any telescopes track it perfectly. =20
> Plus, I'm getting pretty confident with my camera =20
> enough to want to take photos ... =20
Let me suggest a book and a web site :) =20
Clear skies, =20
Michael Covington =20
Author, Astrophotography for the Amateur =20
(Now working on a book on computerized telescopes) =20
http://www.CovingtonInnovations.com/astro <>< =20
[Astronomy correspondents: Please do not send pictures or =20
file attachments unless requested. They will not reach me. ] =20

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<HTML><BODY STYLE=3D"font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV>Kristofer,</DI=
V> <DIV>Looking at your original post, I would say that since you are not=
tracking the moon or stars, your LX200 is in Land mode.  You need t=
o change the mode to either Altaz or Polar.  You mention having a we=
dge.  If this is the case then use Polar mode.  You should have=
no problem following these objects, I know I don't. I can come down=
from the tower, walk to the house to get something and come back ten min=
utes later and it's still in the ep.  For Michael's later post, he s=
ays that there may seem to not be any real need to set the time/date and =
location for setup.  However, the moon and planets' positions are ca=
lculated by the LX200 software.  So it needs to have the time/date a=
nd location to compute these.  The moon, sun, and planets are not he=
ld in a constant position on the celestial sphere.  Just my opinion.=
;o))  Good Skies!</DIV> <DIV>Roy</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOT=
E style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT=
: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt A=
rial">----- Original Message -----</DIV> <DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e=
4; COLOR: black; FONT: 10pt Arial">From: LaGuardia, Kristofer S.</=
DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Arial">Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 1=
</DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Arial">Subject: [M]: RE: Re: [M] L=
X200 align/slew</DIV> <DIV> </DIV><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD=
HTML 3.2//EN"> <META content=3D"MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2653.12" =
name=3DGenerator> Thank you for the information, and re=
commendations!  Hmm...now I wonder what site and  book you woul=
d be referring to? ;)  Hehe -----Origin=
al Message----- From: Michael A. Covington [<A =
Innovations.com</A>] Sent: Friday, June 01, 200=
 Subject: [M]: Re: [M] LX200 align/slew =
> Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 10:08:40 -0600 <=
c.com> > Subject: [M]: LX200 align/slew</=
FONT> > > Last night I=
did a 1-star alt-az alignment with Vega.  My base was <F=
ONT size=3D2>level...I > had used my reticul=
e eyepiece to center the star.  I slewed to some stars <F=
ONT size=3D2>> and was off some...not sure how much since I'm still ne=
w to this... 1-star alignment is inherently=
inaccurate and very much at the mercy of level=
ing and site data.  Do a 2-star alignment and you'll be pleasantly</=
FONT> surprised.  In my opinion, it was a mistake=
for them to even offer 1-star alignment -- it =
is a flawed concept.  Two stars are necessary (and sufficient) to determine the position of the celestial sphere.</=
FONT> > 1) In AltAz mode, does the LX200 track.=
..or automatically slew the scope to <BR=
>> keep up with the object being viewed? <P=
>Yes, automatically.  This is activated as soon as yo=
u do your alignment on 1 or 2 stars. </P=
> > 2) If it does do that, then why use the wedge(I =
have the Meade Superwedge)? <FON=
T size=3D2>To avoid field rotation in long-exposure photographs; also to =
get somewhat smoother tracking and use periodic=
error correction (significant for photography,=
not for visual use).  In alt-azimuth mode, the image twists =
 gradually as it tracks because the telescope isn't rot=
ating around the same axis as the Earth.=
 The other reason to use the wedge is if you are m=
easuring double stars or something and need you=
r four slewing directions to be exactly north, south, east, and west regardless of position in the sky. <=
FONT size=3D2>> i guess I'm getting tired of having to follow the moon=
with the keypad...and > the stars...or finding a binary pair and running in to get the wif=
e out only > to ha=
ve to find it again. Tracking the Moon is i=
nherently complicated because there's parallax as well as orbital motion.  Few if any telescopes track it perfectly=
. > Plus, I'm getting pretty confident w=
ith my camera > enough to want to take photo=
s ... Let me suggest a book and a web site =
:) Clear skies, Michael Covington Author, Astrophotography fo=
r the Amateur (Now working on a book on compute=
rized telescopes) <A href=3D"http://www.covingt=
oninnovations.com/astro" target=3D_blank>http://www.CovingtonInnovations.=
com/astro</A> <>< [Astronomy correspon=
dents: Please do not send pictures or file atta=
chments unless requested.  They will not reach me. ] =
</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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