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danielrc
member
Reged: 06/08/07
Posts: 32
Loc: Cambridgeshire, UK
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Hi,
I tried last night to view an track the ISS on my 10" LX200GPS. I began by uploading the file to Autostar from the Meade website.
I then called up the satellite and set an alarm, the alarm then sounded, so I selected the ISS again and clicked track, but some reason the scope did not follow the ISS, but started tracking too early.
Can someone tell me if I am going about this correctly?
Is there better LX200 compatible sat tracking software to use?
Thanks
Daniel
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My Kit:
Meade 10" LX200 GPS
Canon IXUS500
Canon 400D
Logitech Quickcam Pro4000
Philips SPC900NC
View my astronomy blog
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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4405
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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Check out this Yahoo group.
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
SPC900NC • DMK21AF04 • Digital Rebel XT
  
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2277
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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I haven't tried tracking satellites yet, but I think that the key is that you have to wait until the object is in the field of view, and then start the tracking. The alarm is supposed to sound to let you know that it's time to get ready, not the time to start tracking. You have to be at the eyepiece and wait for the satellite to enter the field of view, and then start the tracking.
At least that's my take on it from reading the manuals of my Meade scopes. It says that you can resume viewing other objects, and when the alarm sounds, return to the satellite menu and choose the satellite. Then, when the sat is in the fov, hit "Enter" to start tracking it. It's the same method in both my LXD75 manual and the manual for my LX200R. Both are on page 34 of the manuals.
Hope that helps.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2529
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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PLUS--- you must have the latest TLE orbit data in the hand controller-- recent to within a few days.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s.
"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein
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danielrc
member
Reged: 06/08/07
Posts: 32
Loc: Cambridgeshire, UK
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Thanks for your help.
I re-read the manual, and I do understand (I think) now that you have to manually get the object in the viewfinder and then set the scope to track.
I thought that after the countdown had gotten to zero that the scope would have automatically then tracked the satellite. Maybe I am wrong, perhaps it does do this, does it?
I think manually aligning a satellite like the ISS, would seem a bit hit and miss getting it in the viewfinder.
By the way, does the satellite file on the Meade website remain up to date? or should I get a file from another website?
Thanks
Daniel
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My Kit:
Meade 10" LX200 GPS
Canon IXUS500
Canon 400D
Logitech Quickcam Pro4000
Philips SPC900NC
View my astronomy blog
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2277
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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I would assume that the info would be good for at least a few days. You can always go to Nasa's Human Spaceflight and look for your state and nearby city. It will give you the flyover times, and it's been pretty accurate so far for the times that I've viewed it with the binos.
Human Space Flight
As far as the actual method, I think the procedure is that the scope slews to the spot where it thinks it should be. Whether it's accurate or not, I couldn't tell you. Like I said, I haven't tried it with my scopes yet.
The timer is only to keep you aware of when the object is getting close to the time of viewing. It won't automatically get the scope on the object. The timer is so that the light bulb goes off over your head and you go "Oh, it's time to get ready". Which is pretty smart, since, if you're anything like me, you'd miss it every time without some kind of reminder. The scope will slew to the area where it thinks it should be, and then you do the rest when you see the object in the field of view.
Now, going by that, I would think that you'd need to use the finder scope because you'd probably want a decent mag through the scope to see the details. I mean, that's the point of doing it in the first place, seeing what kind of detail you can pick out on the ISS. So you should make sure that your finder and scope are pretty accurate with each other.
I'm sure those who have tracked satellites and such will have better knowledge of how it is, whether it's a matter of "sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't", or if the odds of getting your object are pretty good.
But, I will say that you sure have sparked the interest in me to try it. I'm going to give it a go the next chance I get.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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snowdragonusa
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 637
Loc: Denver, CO
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Quote:
Check out this Yahoo group.
Seriously... check out this news group. The program offered there is really great and allowsfor some great tracking.
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Adam
12" LX200R
AT80mm piggyback
DSI Pro, DSI-C, LPI
Denver Astronomical Society
Brighton Astronomical Group
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5604
Loc: Eastern PA
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I agree Sat Tracker was my program of choice for my LX200GPS mount.
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2335
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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That program is Much better than Autostar!
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX 
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