Gemini 2 User manual

Rev 2.0 Page 1
Gemini 2 Quick Start Guide
This guide will help you get started with your Gemini 2 Controller.
This guide is also available as a downloadable PDF you can save and use, and you can click on the
document links: http://www.losmandy.com/files/gemini/gemini2_quickstart.pdf
Please Visit our YouTube Channel and Setup Videos
Please also see our YouTube playlist on setting up your new Losmandy mount including Gemini
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeM-apAbabi33UIBYaF05rvBbmZQ8rYBR
Or scan this QR Code with your mobile device:
Losmandy has produced a lot of great YouTube videos on many topics, we encourage you to visit your
YouTube channel and subscribe to it (and hit the notify “bell” to be alerted when we post future
videos)
Losmandy YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/losmandy
Installing Gemini 2
Mount the Gemini 2 to the tripod by bolting it to the two ears on the tripod using the supplied
thumbscrews
Connect the Motor cables using the 6 pin DIN Cables. Make sure you connect the RA motor (short
cable) to the RA connector and the DEC motor (long cable) to the DEC connector on the Gemini 2 unit.
Connect the Hand Controller to the port labeled HC
The power connection is on the right side of the Gemini 2. Power takes 12-18v DC min 2amp
**When you are ready to use the Gemini 2; before you power on the Gemini 2 be sure the RA Axis is
set to pointing at Polaris, your Telescope Optical tube is pointing to Polaris, and the Counter Weight
Shaft is in the down position (This is known as counterweight down position, starting position, and
also CWD).

Rev 2.0 Page 2
Getting Started
After all the cables are connected, the mount and the telescope optical tube is properly set at
counterweight down (CWD) position, you can power ON the Gemini 2.
As the Gemini 2 boots up a blue screen will come on for a second. Use this ONLY if you need to
recalibrate the touch screen. Calibration is set at the factory and most likely will be fine so you can let
this screen pass by not touching the screen.
NOTE: there is a dedicated video to setting up your Gemini for the very first time here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoba3nVv0AM )
1. When you get to this
screen press Quick Start.
(Cold Start will be used
when you are starting up
using the mount again
but already have the
location and time
entered. For example you
move the mount in doors
and the next night you
move it back outside. Alignment will need to be
done again. Power ON Gemini 2 when the
telescope is pointing at Polaris and CWD.
2. Select your appropriate
Mount Type (G11, GM811,
etc.)
Press NEXT
3. Enter your location
Longitude and Latitude.
Longitude will be negative
in the Western Hemisphere.
Long and Lat is in HH:MM
format, not Decimal. Enter
Time Zone of your location
taking into account any
daylight savings time. If you
have a Losmandy GPS, it should be plugged in to
serial/GPS port. Wait until the GPS is blinking
(showing GPS lock), then press QUERY GPS: the
location will be automatically filled in. With GPS
you still need to enter your timezone
Press NEXT
4. Enter Date & Time – Date
in format MM/DD/YY and
Time in Military (24 hour)
format. When Date and
Time is correct -
Press SET then
Press NEXT
PLEASE NOTE: there is an excellent online tool that gives you accurate and correctly formatted
location, date, and time information for programming your Gemini, it can be found here:
https://gemini-2.com/lat_long_from_address.html

Rev 2.0 Page 3
5. From this screen Press the
Back Button.
6. Press the Back Button
7. This is the Main Screen
Press the GoTo button
8. Press the Bright Star
Button
9. Select a object from the
list. Once you select the
object the mount will slew to
the object. The Screen will
change to the Home Screen
when the mount is done
slewing to the object.
10. From this screen use
the directional buttons to
center the object. Once the
object is centered press the
MENU button.
11. From this screen press
Align.
12. From this screen press
Alignment.
A one star alignment has
been added into the
database for improved
GoTo Accuracy.

Rev 2.0 Page 4
After you press
Alignment you will be
brought back to the Main
Screen. Your Gemini 2 is
now ready for an evening
of observing.
From here you can use the GoTo button to get a selection of other objects for observing. The SPEED
button will change the rate of speed of the motors when depressing one of the directional buttons.
MENU will bring up a menu of functions that can be performed from the Hand Controller.
As you use the GoTo function to move to different objects and find the objects are not within the
telescope view you can quickly do an on the fly alignment. At any object that you have slewed to use
the directional buttons to center the object. Then press MENU, then ALIGN, then Alignment. This will
add to the correction database and increase the accuracy of your next GoTo.
With the Gemini 2 you will never “push” the mount to an object you will always use the motors. That
is how the Gemini knows its location. But if you should accidentally move the mount without the
motors you can easily correct the problem and allow the Gemini 2 to learn its new location. Observe a
known object in the sky. Bring up the Catalog of Objects and GoTo that object. When the mount
finishes slewing to the object then use the directional buttons to bring the object into the center of
view. Now all you need to do is press MENU then ALIGN then Synchronize. Now your mount and
Gemini 2 are back in Sync.