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[Paulie pchris00]

I've said it before- probably repeatedly- but I don't want any surprises on transit day.

Since it's the only scope I have with tracking capability, I'm planning on using my go-to extensively for the Venus transit. I don't know about anybody else's scope, but when I turn on my little go-to, there is a warning about never looking at or near the Sun with the telescope. If Meade was serious about never pointing their telescope at the Sun, they would program it to always know where the Sun is, and never let the scope slew to within a few degrees, right? Would it tell me, "Hey dumb@$$! Venus is in front of the Sun! You'll go blind!" I had to know.

A few minutes ago I turned on my scope, and programmed my zip code, and the date and time as 5:40 PM CDST, June 5, 2012. Venus will be fully inside the solar disk at that time. Then I punched in Venus as my target, and with no hesitation at all, the scope slewed to where about the Sun ought to be that day. Good to know I don't have to try to outsmart my telescope. Still, if you're going to be using a go-to scope, it might be a good idea to check.

[magic612]

Not too hard to outsmart those. When I still had one (I'm not a fan of Goto - takes too long!) I would "set it up" by just letting it think it had aligned with stars. Then when it was on it's first "target" I'd slew to what I wanted to see and let it keep "tracking" - even if that was many, many degrees away from what it thought it was pointed at.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie is going through scenarios and dry run check-lists like a NASA Technician.

Nice.

And..he also stares at the Sun.

[Paulie pchris00]

Dec 8, 2011 13:34:22 GMT -6 magic612 said:

Not too hard to outsmart those. When I still had one (I'm not a fan of Goto - takes too long!) I would "set it up" by just letting it think it had aligned with stars. Then when it was on it's first "target" I'd slew to what I wanted to see and let it keep "tracking" - even if that was many, many degrees away from what it thought it was pointed at.

I'm not a big fan of the go-to either. It's a lower end scope, so it's not top notch technology, but it is usually more of a hassle than it's worth. I program location/date/time, level it, and point north as best I can. I don't even try to do a star alignment. Pick a target, slew, and if it's not in the eyepiece, find it on my own. Last Friday was one of those rare times that both targets I observed fell at the edge of the eyepiece first try, and the tracking was outstanding. Too bad most of the sky was clouded out and the batteries died.

[Paulie pchris00]

Dec 8, 2011 13:35:03 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Paulie is going through scenarios and dry run check-lists like a NASA Technician.

Nice.

And..he also stares at the Sun.

Sooner or later I'm going to make a video of a real test run.

The only surprises I want on ToV Day are wet kisses from all the ladies that come out to see the transit.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Surprise wet kisses from all the ladies that come out to see the transit

Never a surprise for the Chicago Astronomer from grateful astro lovelies and indeed makes for a better session.