Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product LXD55 Meade
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Meade Instruments Corporation Instruction Manual LXD55-Series T elescopes.
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T elescope Features ...................................................... 4 Autostar Features .......................................................... 9 Getting Started ..............................................................1 1 Unpacking and Assembly .
TELESCOPE FEA TURES 4 Fig. 1a : The LXD55-Series T elescope Optical Assembly (Schmidt-Newtonian model with A utostar handbo x shown; Electronic Controller model users, see Appendix D , page 55). Fig. 1c : The LXD55-Series T r ipod B C g d f I 1) 1# 1$ e H J 1! 1@ 3% 3& 4) 3^ 3( Fig.
5 Fig. 1e : The LXD55-Series Computer Control Panel (see 2$ abo ve). Fig. 1d: The LXD55-Series Mount. 2! 2@ 1& 1* 1( 2# 2$ 2% 2^ 2^ 2* 2( 2& 3) 3! 3@ 3# 3$ .
LXD55-Series:Y our Personal Window to the Universe The Meade LXD55- Series models are versatile, high-resolution telescopes. Supplied with either an Electronic Controller or an Autostar handbox, the LXD55- Series models offer unmatched mechanical and electronic performance.
7 1% Viewfinder Brac ket Screws (2): T ighten to a firm feel to hold viewfinder secure- ly in place ( see E ). See page 12 for more information. 1^ Focus Lock Knob : Designed to prevent the focuser drawtube from moving when a heavy accessory , such as a camera, is attached to the focuser assembly .
8 2( P olar Alignment Viewfinder: Allows you to precisely polar align the telescope. Useful when performing astrophotography . See page 50. 3) P olar Alignment Viewfinder Retic le and LED Knob: Rotate the knob to switch on or off the LED that illuminates the reticle within the polar alignment finder .
9 Fig. 2: The Autostar Handbo x. T our the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of most LXD55-Series telescope models (excluding the EC models; see mar- gin note) is through the operation of Autostar . Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar ’s buttons.
10 Note: If ENTER is pressed f or two seconds or more and then released, A utostar emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is display ed. "ENTER to Sync" ma y be used only after your telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. See page 30 for more details .
11 As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The assembly is shipped in separate boxes. T elescope Assembly ■ Equatorial mount with polar alignment finder ■ Heavy duty , ad.
12 Unscrew the safety cap ( 23, Fig. 1d ) from the shaft. Holding the counterweight ( 21, Fig. 1d ) firmly in one hand, slip the counterweight to approximately the mid- point of the counterweight shaft ( 22, Fig. 1d ). T ighten the counterweight lock knob to a firm feel.
13 Insert the eyepiece: Achromatic refractor and Schmidt-Cassegrain models (Fig. 10b): Lift to remove the dust cap from the eyepiece holder on the focuser assembly . Set the dust cap aside in a safe place and replace it when you have finished observing to protect the eyepiece assembly .
14 Important Note: Objects appear upside-down and rev ersed left-for-right when observed in the viewfinder . With refracting telescope models, objects vie wed through the main telescope with the diagonal mirror in place are seen right-side-up, but re v ersed left-for-right.
15 Y our telescope comes supplied with a Super Plössl (SP) 26mm eyepiece which gives a wide, comfortable field of view with high image resolution. Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view , bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions.
16 supplied with your telescope. When the object is centered and focused in the eye- piece, switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practi- cal for prevailing viewing conditions. For information about other eyepieces avail- able for your telescope, see OPTIONAL A CCESSORIES , page 37.
17 Speeds 1, 2, or 3: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a higher power eyepiece, such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece. Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enables centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard Super Plössl 26mm.
18 Observe a Star using the Automatic T rac king Feature In this example, Autostar's Arrow keys are used to find a star , and then Autostar's tracking capability automatically keeps the star centered in your telescope's eyepiece. EC handbox users, see APPENDIX D , page 55, for information about tracking with the EC handbox.
19 Moving Thr ough A utostar’ s Menus (Autostar Models Onl y) Autostar's menus are organized for quick and easy navigation. ■ Press ENTER ( 2, Fig. 2 ) to go deeper into Autostar menu levels. ■ Press MODE ( 3, Fig. 2 ) to move back toward the top menu level.
20 a. Autostar prompts you to enter the Country or State (listed alphabetically) of the observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of countries, states, and provinces. Press ENTER when the correct location displays. b. Autostar then prompts you to enter the nearest city (listed alphabetically) to the observing site.
21 15. "Drive Setup: For this...." begins to scroll across the display . This is another reminder to point your telescope at a terrestrial object. Loosen the R.A. and Dec. locks ( 17 and 33, Fig. 1d ) and point the telescope at an object. Then re-tighten the locks.
22 5. Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays and the telescope slews until it finds Saturn. Y ou may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. Autostar then automatically slews (moves) the telescope so that it tracks Saturn (or whatever other object you may have chosen).
It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop ( Fig. 19 ). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key ( 7, Fig. 2 ) cycles down through all the available options within a given category , then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key ( 7, Fig.
24 3. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise" is displayed. 4. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu. 5. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level.
25 Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Planetary Neb. Etc. Star Named SAO Catalog Double Va r i a b l e Etc.
26 MENUS Object Menu Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category . ( Note: Exceptions include Guided T our and Landmar k Surve y . ) See GO TO SA TURN , page 21, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see USING THE GUIDED T OUR , page 22.
27 Bro wse allows you to search the library for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, such as: Object T ype, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc . Once you have set the param- eters of the search, select "Start Search" and press ENTER.
28 ■ Set : Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. ■ Start/Stop : Activates the timer set previously . Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF . When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer .
29 Time changes the time entered into Autostar . Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate locations and events. T ime may be set to 24-hour mode (military time) by selecting the "blank" option ( i.e. , no option is displayed) which fol- lows the "AM" and "PM" options.
30 b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions. c. Custom : Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates. ■ Rever se L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left and Right Arrow keys ( i.e. , the Right key moves the telescope to the left ).
31 Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar , including: ■ Characters Free : Shows how much room is available in user-defined object memory . ■ Ve r si o n : Shows the current version of the Autostar software. Reset completely resets Autostar .
32 USEFUL AUTOST AR PROCEDURES Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic oper- ations of Autostar described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic knowledge of Autostar and understand how to scroll to a desired menu or menu option, and how to enter numbers and text.
33 1 1. Press MODE. "Site: Edit" displays. 12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to "Site: Select." The site you have just edited dis- plays.
34 Observing Satellites In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass. 1. Navigate to the "Object: Satellite" menu option and press ENTER. 2. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of satellites. 3. Select a satellite from the list and press ENTER.
35 Another setup method is to select an object from the Landmark database. See TO SELECT A LANDMARK FROM THE D A T ABASE below . Then manually move the tele- scope's optical tube and center this object in the telescope eyepiece. 2. Display the "Setup: T argets" menu option.
36 Photography through an LXD55 Schmidt-Newtonian telescope requires an LXD55-Series T - Adapter ( supplied) attached to the telescope ( Fig. 22 ). Through-the-telescope photog- raphy is possible with any 35mm camera body with a removable lens. In this way , the tel- escope effectively becomes the lens of the camera.
37 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is available for the LXD55-Series telescope models. The premium quality of these accessories is well-suited to the qual- ity of the instrument itself. Consult the Meade General Catalog for complete details on these and other accessories.
38 Series 4000 8 - 24mm Zoom Eyepiece: The internal zoom optics of this eyepiece move on smooth, precisely machined surfaces which maintain optical collimation at all zoom settings. A scale graduated in 1mm units indicates the zoom focal length in operation.
39 Dew Shield: In moist climates, water particles suspended in the atmosphere may condense on the front surface of the telescope's correcting plate. This dew formation may be inhibited to a significant extent by the addition of a dew shield, essentially an extension tube attaching to the front-cell of the telescope.
40 MAINTENANCE General Maintenance LXD55-Series telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your LXD55 will rarely , if ever , require factory servicing.
41 shipment of your telescope. It is only necessary for you to confirm that the telescope has not been badly jarred out of collimation, and to perform the final fine-tuning of Step 4, below . Fig. 31a shows a correctly collimated Schmidt-Newtonian telescope, as it appears when viewed through the focuser with the eyepiece removed.
42 4. Perform an actual star test to confirm the accuracy of steps 1 through 3. Using the SP 26mm eyepiece, point the telescope at a moderately bright (second or third mag- nitude) star , and center the image in the main telescope's field of view .
43 Caution: Do not f orce the three collimation screws past their normal trav el and do not loosen them more than two full turns in a counterclockwise direction or the secondar y mirror ma y come loose from its suppor t.
44 Inspecting the Optics A Note About the “ Flashlight T est: If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer ’ .
45 SPECIFICA TIONS 6" f/5 Model SN-6, SN-6EC Specifications Optical design ..............................................Schmidt-Newtonian Clear aperture ..............................................6" (152mm) Focal length .................
46 10" f/4 Model SN-10 Specifications Optical design ..............................................Schmidt-Newtonian Clear aperture ..............................................10" (254mm) Focal length ......................................
47 Alignment .................................................... German-type equatorial mount Slew Speeds ................................................1x sidereal to 4.5 ° /sec in 9 increments T ripod .............................................
48 A celestial coordinate system was created that maps an imaginary sphere surround- ing the Earth upon which all stars appear to be placed. This mapping system is simi- lar to the system of latitude and longitude on Earth surface maps.
49 Polaris Little Dipper Big Dipper Cassiopeia Fig. 35: Locating Polaris. star , and also of the object you wish to locate, in a star atlas. Point the object at the bright star . Then loosen the R.A. setting circle lock knob ( 32, Fig. 1d ) and turn the R.
50 APPENDIX B: ENHANCING POINTING PRECISION The P olar Alignment Viewfinder T ypically Autostar's pointing capabilities are sufficient for most telescope observers, and the use of the polar alignment viewfinder is unnecessary for them.
51 2. Loosen the R.A. Lock ( 33, Fig. 1d ) and the Dec. Lock ( 17, Fig. 1d) . Point the tube so that it is above the tripod leg marked with a star . Retighten the Dec. Lock. Move the counterweight shaft and mount so that it is parallel to the horizon.
52 4. Observe the position of the object in the eyepiece. Assuming that the declination was properly set in the previous procedure, the object should have moved only horizontally (that is, side-to-side) from its original position. It may be out of the eyepiece altogether .
53 Method 2: Axis Alignment Using Autostar Perform this procedure during the daytime. Y ou will need to have an unobstructed view of an easily sighted landmark, such as a light post.
54 APPENDIX C: LA TITUDE CHART Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the W orld T o aid in the polar alignment procedure (see pages 17-21), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below . T o dete rmine the lati- tude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site.
55 APPENDIX D: EC HANDBOX The model SN-6EC , model SN-8EC , and model AR-5EC come equipped with an Electronic Controller (EC) handbox, rather than the Autostar Handbox. The Electronic Controller provides you with the means to control the telescope motors from a com- pact handbox.
56 MODE Ke y : Press and hold MODE to place the Electronic Controller into the Mode function, i.e., to select operation for the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. See TRA CKING RA TES , page 57. OU T Key : Use this key to decrease the tracking rate.
57 7. When the test is complete, light 1 remains on; lights 2, 3, and 4 turn off. 8. Use the four Arrow keys ( 1, Fig. 42 ) to slew the telescope to the desired object. T o change the slew speed, press SPEED. 9. Fine-adjust the position of the object with the Electronic Controller Arrow keys so that it is centered in the viewfinder .
58 Note: The trac king rate can be increased by up to 65%. 4. T o use a rate slower than sidereal, press OUT ( 6, Fig. 3 ) until light 4 blinks again (sidereal rate). Press OUT key and light 4 goes out, signifying a tracking rate 0.5% slower than sidereal.
59 APPENDIX E: MOUNTING THE MODEL SC-8 SCHMIDT - CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL TUBE How to Attach the Optical T ube to the Mount The LXD55 model SC-8 Schmidt-Cassegrain assembles and operates identically to all .
60 In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller than your LXD55 , turned it skyward instead of looking at the distant trees and mountains. What he saw , and what he realized about what he saw , has forever changed the way mankind thinks about the universe.
61 Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. T o locate the plan- ets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and T elescope or Astronomy . Y ou can also consult Autostar for information about planets.
62 Further Study .... This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy . If you are interested in pursuing further studies in astronomy , a few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on. T ry looking up some of these in the optional Autostar glossary .
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14-7300-01 10/03D AD V ANCED PRODUCTS DIVISION Meade Instruments Corporation World’ s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical T elescopes for the Serious Amateur 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450 F AX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www .
An important point after buying a device Meade LXD55 (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Meade LXD55 yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Meade LXD55 - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Meade LXD55 you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Meade LXD55 will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Meade LXD55, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Meade LXD55.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Meade LXD55. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Meade LXD55 along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
