Complex and simple in a single package

I've been on a KISS kick - Keep It Simple Stupid. Only it dawned on me this morning - unintentional pun- that you don't have to be simple to be simple - you can use the most complex go to scope and get the best of both worlds - assuming the #@$!%# go to scope works. Me and technology aren't getting along that well over the past several months.

But here's the point. KISS is great because you don't burden yourself with technology that may or may not work. And its great because you increase your observing skills by finding things yourself - and you get a better sense of the context of what you observe. Also keeps your observing at a reasonable pace.

All of these benefits, however, can be realized with a typical, computer driven SCT, such as the Meade LX90. And that's what I "discovered" this morning. OK - anyone want to say "duh" I won't object. But for those blundering along as I do, here's the process.

Turn on your computer. Turn down - or off - the irritating red lights on the hand controller. Move the scope with the hand controller buttons and find whatever you want. Track with the hand control buttons.

Or . . . go ahead and do a simple, one-star alignment. (The scope may or may not need this, but I think it does.) Then turn off the lights on the hand controller, find things, and the scope will track whatever you land on - a definite advantage sometimes. Without tracking it's easier to get your directions straight, though, since everything drifts out towards the west. When your mechanical slow motion controls are smooth - or your electrical ones - tracking may not be necessary. I haven't decided this one yet.

Of course I'm only talking about what works for me. I know others would find this apporahc crazy.

Anyway - bongo. Best of both worlds. I did this this morning - the tracking bit - as I continued my exploration of the Virgo cluster of galaxies.