The Mount
Click on the photos for a larger view.
The mount has a scope built into it. This
is to help attain correct polar alignment.
Polar alignment is critical to
Astro-photography and one of the most
difficult and time consuming procedures
we endure. Click inset box to see the
polar scope reticle.
is to help attain correct polar alignment.
Polar alignment is critical to
Astro-photography and one of the most
difficult and time consuming procedures
we endure. Click inset box to see the
polar scope reticle.
It helps if the mount is level. Here I
dismantled a plastic carpenter's level,
took out the leveling tubes, and glued
them with silicone to the mount.
dismantled a plastic carpenter's level,
took out the leveling tubes, and glued
them with silicone to the mount.
Meade 947 Autostar
How important is it for
your mount to track?
your mount to track?
Autostar Menu
Autostar description
The Meade LXD55 is a go-to telescope, meaning it locates and tracks celestial objects using the 947 autostar
hand controller. Once the location is entered and stored at the initial start up, a user only needs to enter the time
and date and complete one of the polar alignment procedures from the menu. This confirms and fine tunes the
telescope's position on the planet. At this point, the user is ready to find more than 13,000 objects that come
preloaded into the Autostar, including planets, stars, comets, asteroids, deep sky objects, and even artificial
satellites like (but not but limited to) the space station and space shuttle. The user can download updates to the
Autostar from the Internet. Click on the Autostar menu above to see the basic menu page.
hand controller. Once the location is entered and stored at the initial start up, a user only needs to enter the time
and date and complete one of the polar alignment procedures from the menu. This confirms and fine tunes the
telescope's position on the planet. At this point, the user is ready to find more than 13,000 objects that come
preloaded into the Autostar, including planets, stars, comets, asteroids, deep sky objects, and even artificial
satellites like (but not but limited to) the space station and space shuttle. The user can download updates to the
Autostar from the Internet. Click on the Autostar menu above to see the basic menu page.
I needed more shelf space and a place to
plug in all my stuff. I had a power strip left
over from my music days, so I constructed a
shelf and mounted the power strip to it. The
shelf also gives the tripod a little more
stability. The pull out lights really come in
handy.
plug in all my stuff. I had a power strip left
over from my music days, so I constructed a
shelf and mounted the power strip to it. The
shelf also gives the tripod a little more
stability. The pull out lights really come in
handy.
Here is a 3 minute photo
of the Orion Nebula with
no tracking. It may not
feel like it, but the Earth
is moving pretty fast.
of the Orion Nebula with
no tracking. It may not
feel like it, but the Earth
is moving pretty fast.
click photo
Move mouse over photo
Meade LXD55 equatorial mount