Meade LX80 instruction manual Cations, Appendix C Specifications

Page 60

cations

APPENDIX C:

SPECIFICATIONS

Appendix C: Specifi

 

Mount Only

Product Number

37-0080-00

 

 

UPC

7 09942 38120 7

 

 

Telescope Mounting

Alt-Azimuth or German Equatorial

 

 

AudioStar Controller

AudioStar

 

 

Object Database

30,000 objects

 

 

Pointing Precision

Up to 5 arcminutes

(High-Precision Mode)

 

 

 

Go-To Pointing

10 arcminutes

Precision (Approx.)

 

 

 

Periodic Error

Polar mode only

Correction

 

 

 

Slow Motion Controls

Electronic

 

 

Slew Speeds

RA and DEC: 1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x,

 

128x sidereal and 1.5°/sec., 3°/sec.,

 

6.5°/sec.

 

 

Tracking Rates

Sidereal, lunar or custom selected from

 

2,000 incremental rates

 

 

Latitude Range

25° to 90°

(in EQ mode)

 

 

 

Control Panel

12v DC, Power, HBX port,

 

2 Aux ports (RS232)

 

 

Total Instrument

Multi-OTA = 70 lbs

Capacity

Alt-az or German Equatorial = 40 lbs

 

 

Batteries

8xAA

(User-Supplied)

 

 

 

AC Power (optional)

12v DC, 5 amp power supply

 

 

Tripod

Adjustable-height tripod with 2 inch

 

stainless steel legs. Includes fine

 

adjustment leg levelers on each leg.

 

Range of fine adjustment for each leg

 

+ 0.2 inch. Tripod height adjusts from

 

30.5 to 47 inches.

 

 

Smart Drive

Yes

 

 

AudioStar Suite

Yes

Planetarium Software

 

 

 

Counterweights

One 11 lb. steel weight included

 

 

Astronomer Inside

Yes

 

 

Other Features

Alt-az or German EQ configuration,

 

dual OTA configuration, optional plug-in

 

autoguider port

 

 

Materials

Diecast aluminum with ABS panels

 

 

Product Weights and Dimensions

 

 

Mount Weight

35 lbs

 

 

Mount Dimensions

12 inch L x 8 inch W x 14 inch H

 

 

Tripod Weight

31.5 lbs

 

 

Tripod Dimension

30.5 inch to 47 inch variable

 

 

 

 

 

6 inch SC

 

8 inch SC

10 inch SC

80mm APO

115mm

SolarMax™

SolarMax™

 

 

 

 

 

 

APO

II 60

II 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product

0610-08-01

0810-08-01

1010-08-01

0306-08-01

4507-08-01

SMT60-10-LX80

SMT90-15-LX80

Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPC

7 09942

7 09942

7 09942

7 09942

7 09942

7 09942

7 09942

 

38132 0

38121 4

38122 1

38127 6

38128 3

38129 0

38130 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optical

Schmidt-Cassegrain

Apochromatic Refractor

Refractor

Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aperture

6 inch

 

8 inch

10 inch

80mm

115mm

60mm

90mm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focal Length

1524mm,

 

2034mm,

2540mm,

480mm, f/6

805mm, f/7

400mm, f/6.6

800mm, f/8.8

and Focal

f/10

 

f/10

f/10

 

 

 

 

Ratio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optical

 

 

UHTC

 

Fully Multi-Coated

Fully Coated

Coatings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolving

0.760

 

0.570

0.456

1.45

1.01

1.93

1.29

Power

arcseconds

 

arcseconds

arcseconds

arcseconds

arcseconds

arcseconds

arcseconds

(Dawes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary

21.18

 

13.65

11.9

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Obstruction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(% by area)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viewfinder

8x50mm with cross-hair reticle

Red Dot

8x50mm

Sol-ranger projection type

 

 

 

 

 

 

with cross-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

hair reticle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eyepiece

 

 

26mm Series 4000 Super Plössl

 

25mm Cemax

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diagonal

 

1.25 inch diagonal

2 inch with 99% reflectivity

1.25 inch

1.25 inch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

blocking filter 10

blocking filter 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primary and

Low-expansion borosilicate glass

 

 

N/A

 

Secondary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mirrors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Correcting

Aspheric high-spectral transmission

FPL53

FK61

BK-7

Plate/Lens

Borofloat glass from Schott AG Germany

extra-low

extra-low

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dispersion

dispersion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

glass

glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optical Tube

 

 

 

 

Aluminum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product Weights and Dimensions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTA Weight

13 lbs.

 

14.1 lbs.

29.5 lbs.

7.2 lbs.

17.5 lbs.

5 lbs.

16.5 lbs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTA

7 inch

 

9 inch

11.75 inch

4 inch

5.5 inch

4 inch diameter

5 inch diameter x

Dimensions

diameter x

 

diameter x

diameter x

diameter x

diameter x

x 16 inches

28 inches

 

14.2 inches

 

17 inches

22 inches

18 inches

31 inches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60

Image 60
Contents LX80 Multi-Mount Telescope System With Astronomer Inside Page Battery Safety Instructions Contents Introduction IntroductionLX80 Telescope People at MeadeTelescope Features LX80 Multi-MountRobust Aluminum Construction Gears and DrivesAudioStar Counterweight Shaft Control PanelIndustry Standard Dovetail Adapter LX80 Key Features LX80 Key Features Rear ViewLX80 Key Features C. D. E. F LX80 Tripod Adjustments for German EQ Mode Latitude Adjustment Latitude Lock KnobLX80 Series Your Personal Window to the Universe Vixen-style Dovetail Receiver Place OTA dovetail hereTelescope Control Panel DEC Setting Circle DEC Reference Point Azimuth Lock KnobsHow to Assemble Your Telescope Getting StartedSpread the tripod legs Attach spreader bar and thread on tension knobThread-on counterweight shaft Attach mount to tripod base. Place the mountTighten three 3 knobs at underside Tighten DEC lock Plug AudioStar into HBX connector Secure diagonal into holderInsert eyepiece into diagonal Balancing the Telescope RA Right Ascension BalanceWhile maintaining hold of OTA, loosen the DEC lock Balancing the OTAAligning the Viewfinder Loosen RA lock right and left sidesTilting the mount head Choosing an Eyepiece Observing by Moving the Telescope ManuallyUsing AudioStar’s GoTo Capabilities Moving Through AudioStar’s MenusActivate the Arrow Keys Slew SpeedsPlaying Audio Entering Data into AudioStarNavigating AudioStar Observe the MoonLX80 Multi-Mount System Initializing AudioStarAligning the LX80 Alt-Azimuth Mode Setting the Alt-Azimuth Home PositionFinding True North Alt-Azimuth home positionPerform the Easy Align Procedure Finding Magnetic NorthEasy Two-Star Align Using the Guided Tour Go To SaturnEquatorial Mode Setting the Polar Home PositionEquatorial Mode Tilt the mount head using hex head toolHow to perform the Easy Align Locating the Celestial PoleEasy Align Equatorial home positionGo To Saturn Dual OTA Mode Dual OTA Alt-AzSecondary mount plate LX80 Tips AudioStar Handbox Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a ButtonScroll Keys AudioStar Handbox Slew Speeds Observation Using AudioStar’s Arrow Keys Playing the AudioTerrestrial Observing AudioStar Operation AudioStar Navigation ExerciseTo Calculate Sunset time Object Menu AudioStar #497 Menu Tree AudioStar #497 Menu TreeEvent Menu Glossary MenuUtilities Menu Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the timeSetup Menu Selected telescope AudioStar Operation Adding Observing Sites To Add a Site to the user-defined site listTo Edit a Site Using AudioStar to Find Objects Not in the Database To GoTo a user-entered objectObserving Satellites Landmarks To Add a landmark to the databaseIdentify To Select a landmark from the databaseTo perform a Landmark Survey To check on the available amount of memory in AudioStarTraining the Drive Displayed information ExampleAdvanced alt/az Alignment BrowseTwo-Star alt/az Alignment One-Star alt/az AlignmentPhotography with the LX80 Few tips on photography with the LX80Photography with a Digital Camera Some tips for better digital photosPhotography with the LX80 Photography with Meade’s AudioStar SuiteOptional Accessories Optional Accessories Maintenance MaintenanceStorage and Transport Inspecting the OpticsTroubleshooting Unable to see an image through the eyepieceObject appears in the viewfinder but not in the eyepiece Customer Service Customer ServiceDrive Appendix aAppendix B Objects in SpaceDeep-Sky Objects Appendix C Specifications CationsAlignment Appendix DPolar Alignment Celestial CoordinatesPrecise Polar Alignment AudioStar Polar AlignmentEasy Polar Alignment One-Star Polar AlignmentAppendix D Equatorial Polar Alignment PEC Update Menu Option PEC Train Menu OptionPEC Erase Menu Option PEC On and Off Menu OptionsLatitude Chart Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldAppendix E EuropeAmerica Appendix G Recycling Information Recycling InformationPage Page Page Limited Warranty Meade Limited Warranty

LX80 specifications

The Meade LX80 is a versatile and innovative telescope designed to cater to both novice astronomers and experienced stargazers. Its combination of performance, ease of use, and advanced features makes it a popular choice among enthusiasts seeking to explore the cosmos.

One of the standout characteristics of the LX80 is its extensive GoTo mount system, which allows users to automatically locate and track celestial objects with remarkable precision. This feature is powered by a database containing over 30,000 astronomical objects, providing a broad range of targets for exploration. The telescope's integrated GPS ensures swift alignment with the night sky, simplifying setup and enhancing the observing experience.

The LX80 employs advanced technology with its heavy-duty dual-axis equatorial mount, providing stability and sturdiness. This design is particularly beneficial for astrophotography, as it minimizes vibrations and allows for longer exposure times without blurring. Additionally, the mount is compatible with various optical tubes, enabling users to customize their setup according to their specific interests, whether it’s planetary observation or deep-sky photography.

Another impressive feature of the Meade LX80 is its SmartDrive technology, which continually corrects any tracking errors, ensuring smooth and accurate movement across the night sky. This is especially helpful for capturing high-quality images of celestial bodies. The telescope can also be controlled via a smartphone or tablet using the optional Meade app, which further adds to its user-friendly design.

The LX80's optical performance is equally commendable. Many models come with a high-quality optical tube, offering superb light-gathering capabilities. The telescope's aperture, typically ranging from 6 to 10 inches, makes it well-suited for observing faint deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, as well as brighter targets such as planets.

In terms of portability, the LX80 is designed to be compact, making it easier to transport to dark-sky locations. The telescope can be quickly set up and dismantled, accommodating astronomers who wish to observe in various settings.

Overall, the Meade LX80 stands out as a dynamic and feature-rich telescope. With its powerful GoTo capabilities, advanced tracking technology, and customizable optics, it offers a well-rounded observational experience. Whether you're peering through the eyepiece for the first time or capturing stunning images of the universe, the LX80 is equipped to meet your astronomical needs.