You should now be ready for normal operation with your Gemini.  You can perform 

more Additional Aligns any time during your observing session to further refine the 

model.  Be sure to read chapter 3 for more information about starting up and aligning 

Gemini in its different startup modes, and for more details about Gemini' s internal 

modeling capabilities. 

2.4.4  Normal Operation 

By now, you are no doubt eager to put Gemini through its paces.   You can control your 

mount using Gemini either from the Hand Controller, or via a computer connected 

through Gemini' s serial port.  Chapter 5 describes these operations in great detail.  The 

present chapter concludes with a quick guide on how to use the Hand Controller to select 

and GoTo objects in Gemini' s database. 

2.4.4.1  Entering an Object of Interest 

There are 2 ways to tell Gemini where you want it to go.  The most common is to simply 

select one of the thousands of objects from Gemini' s catalogs.  However, if you want to 

GoTo an object that is not in a catalog such as a comet, you can enter its RA and Dec. 

coordinates manually. 

Catalogs 

Gemini has 11 permanently stored catalogs (databases) containing over 40,000 entries.  

To select an object from a catalog, simply select the   Object Database   menu item.  You 

can then scroll through the catalogs using the DEC buttons; selecting one of the catalogs 

then allows you to choose an object from that catalog.   

Some catalogs such as the "Messier" and "NGC" catalogs require numeric entries to 

choose an object.  Other catalogs such as "Bright Stars" or "Solar System" allow you to 

scroll through objects and select the object you want.  In the case of the "Bright Star" 

catalog, it is conveniently organized and subdivided according to the first letter of the 

stars'  names.  In all cases, once the object you want is displayed, press the RA+ button to 

select it. 

Another way to acquire a catalog or object list is to compose it yourself.  Using the 

optional Gemini Control Program, you can use your PC to prepare and download your 

own catalog that can contain up to 4000 objects.  This has the advantage of including in 

your list only objects that will be used for a particular night 

s observation. 

Coordinates 

Another method of selecting an object is to enter its RA and Dec. coordinates directly.  

Select   RA/DEC Coordnt

Enter RA/DEC   from the menu.  You will then be shown the 

mount' s current RA/Dec. location and be prompted to change each digit to the desired 

coordinates.  As with all numeric entries in Gemini, use the DEC+ and DEC  buttons to 

change the flashing digit, the RA+ button to advance to the next digit, and the RA  button 

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