Motor drive - newbie

[ManUtdFans]

Is the motor drive used for automatic tracking the target?
Sorry if this is a dump question.

[Eggmoon]

Yes. That's the short answer.

I had an old battery operated motor for my 5" Newtonian I had years ago. You do the alignment, then the motor swings the scope at the speed the earth rotates, keeping the stars aligned for you... or planet... or nebula...

I now have a more modern Alt/Az scope, that the two motors built in, and can track pretty much anything. But in Alt/Az mode you will get "twisting" of the stars. Add a wedge and go to polar mode and the one motor does the same job as on my old Newt.

So yes... the motor is used for tracking an object.

[alexV]

Alan there is no such a thing as dumb question :thumbsup:

People here are happy to answer any questions.

Very friendly bunch.