2  Getting Started 

Now that you've unpacked your Gemini unit, you are no doubt eager to start using it.  

Please take some time to read through this section of the manual before using your 

Gemini for the first time.  It will guide you through installation and first use of your 

Gemini, and introduce you to some important concepts for using your German equatorial 

mount. 

2.1  Quick Start Guide 

Although it is 

highly

 recommended that you read through this entire chapter before using 

Gemini for the first time, this section is provided as a quick start guide to give you an 

overview of the process, and to use as a reference after you have read the remainder of 

the chapter. 

1.  Connect motor and power cables. 

2.  Position mount with the polar axis pointing to the celestial pole. 

3.  Position RA and Dec axes so that the counterweight shaft is pointing down, and 

the Dec. axis is at 90

 (OTA pointing at the celestial pole). 

4.  Move power switch to the  on  position. 

5.  After seeing several system messages, select  Cold Start .  Note that Gemini may 

automatically cold start if its internal memory does not contain valid data. 

6.  Enter date/time, geographic location, and mount type during the cold start 

sequence.  Alternatively, you can use the  Setup  menu to enter this data after the 

cold start has completed.  Note: this step assumes that you do not have a GPS 

connected. 

7.  Choose 3 to 5 alignment stars from the Alignment Star List (see Appendix 8.3) 

which are on the same side of the meridian and are well separated in RA. 

8.  Align the mount on the first star using the following sequence: 

a.  Select  Align Telescope

GoTo Bright Star  

b.  Select your first alignment star from the submenu 

c.  Mount will slew close to that star 

d.  Use Hand Controller buttons to center the star in the eyepiece 

e.  Select  Align Telescope

Synchronize  

f.  Display will confirm the object to which you are pointing  

g.  Press RA+ to complete the initial alignment 

9.  For 

each

 of your other alignment stars selected in step 7: 

a.  Select  Align Telescope

GoTo Bright Star  

b.  Select the alignment star from the  submenu 

c.  Mount will slew to that star 

d.  Use Hand Controller buttons to center the star in the eyepiece 

e.  Select  Align Telescope

Additional Align  

f.  Display will confirm the object to which you are pointing  

g.  Press RA+ to complete the alignment 

10. Choose an alignment star on the opposite side of the meridian (see Appendix 8.3). 

Gemini Users Manual 

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