Meade Comprehensive Focusing Techniques for Your Telescope by

Focusing the Telescope

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Fig. 40d: Viewfinder adjustment screws (12); spring loaded screw (13)

Fig. 40e: Align the viewfinder on a distant object, such as a light or telephone pole.

Important Note:

Press MODE at any time to exit Focus modes.

All focusing is performed digitally, using AutoStar II’s Focus key (number key 4). The Focus key functions as a toggle key:

JPress the Focus key the first time to focus the telescope eyepiece and to control the speed at which you focus.

JPress the Focus key again to set and adjust up to nine focus presets.

To change the focus speed:

1.Press the Focus key once. “Focuser: Fast (or the current speed)” displays for two seconds. Use one of the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of 5 available focus speeds: Fast, Medium, Slow, Fine, S. Fine. Scroll through the list until the speed you desire displays. Choose a focus speed with which you feel comfortable.

To focus the telescope eyepiece:

1.Press the Focus key once. “Focuser: Fast (or the current speed)” displays. After

two seconds, “Focuser: Position = XX” displays. “XX” stands for a number value in decimal millimeters.

2.Point the telescope at a distant object. Look in the eyepiece and use the Arrow keys until the image in the eyepiece is in sharp focus.

3.Press MODE to leave Focus menu.

Presets:

Nine preset focus positions are available, and they operate much like presets on a car radio—everyone can have their own favorite station, or in this case, their own person- alized focus. You can set one preset to take into account your own eyesight, one for your observing partner (who may wear glasses), one for your camera’s focus, and so forth.

Three preset menus are available. Use the Define Preset menu to assign a preset, use the GoTo Preset menu to select a preset you have previously assigned, and use Sync On Preset menu if you do not park your telescope (this menu will reset all your focus presets after you turn off and turn on your scope again ).

To define a preset:

1.Point the telescope at a distant object, press FOCUS and use the Up and Down Arrow keys to focus the telescope until the object is sharply focused as previous- ly explained.

2.Press the Focus key again (FOCUS toggles between the Focus menu and the Preset menu). “Focuser Preset: Go To” displays. Use a Scroll key and scroll down the list of options until “Focuser Preset: Define Preset” displays. Press ENTER.

3.A list of presets displays. If no preset is currently assigned, “1- Unnamed” displays (followed by 2- Unnamed, up to 9 - Unnamed).

4.Use the up and down Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet and the right and left Arrow keys to move to cursor right or left across the display.

5.When you have finished typing in a name and focusing the telescope, press ENTER. That number preset is now defined. You can enter 9 names. For exam- ple, you may enter “Joe,” “Jill,” “Deep Sky Imager” and so forth.

6.To select one of these presets, you will use the “Focuser Preset: Go To” menu.

Focusing Telescopes Equipped with a Microfocuser

To focus telescopes other than an RCX with one of Meade's microfocusers (e.g., LX200 GPS 16"), perform the following procedure. Make sure you have the microfo- cuser attached to the telescope and plugged into the Focuser port on the saddle plate:

•Press the Number Key 4 and Autostar displays "Saddle Focus: Speed Fast."

•Use the Up/Down keys to scroll through the four microfocuser speeds (fast, medium, slow, fine).

•Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move the focus in or out.

Focusing both RCX focusers and Telescopes Equipped with Microfocusers If you are using both an RCX and a telescope with a microfocuser (as a guiding

Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the	25
Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.