Meade Master the LXD55 Telescope with Our Official Manual
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Eyepiece

Holder

Thumbscrew

Fig. 10a: Insert eyepiece into holder and tighten thumbscrews.

Viewfinder

Eyepiece

Eyepiece

Thumbscrews

Holder

Diagonal

Fig. 10b: Insert eyepiece into diagonal and tighten thumbscrews.

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. Back off the eyepiece thumbscrews (1, Fig. 1b) and slide the diagonal into the holder and tighten the thumbscrews to a firm feel only. Insert the supplied SP 26mm eyepiece (3, Fig.

1b) into the the diagonal. Tighten the diagonal's thumbscrews to a firm feel to secure the eyepiece.

Note: Two eyepiece holders are included with your telescope—for both 1.25" and 2" eyepieces. To change eyepiece holders, unscrew the attached holder from the focuser and thread on the other holder.

11.Adjust the height of the tripod: Adjust the height of the tripod by loosening the tripod lock knobs (Fig. 11). Extend the sliding inner section of each tripod leg to the desired length; then tighten each knob. Adjust the tripod to a height that is comfortable for viewing.

12.Install Batteries: Insert eight (user-supplied) D-size batteries into the battery holder, oriented as shown in the diagram on the battery slots of the holder. Plug the battery pack into the 12v DC connector (B, Fig. 1e) on the computer control panel. See Fig. 12.

Caution: Use care to install batteries as indicated by the battery com- partment. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install bat- teries backwards or mix new and used batteries. Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are not followed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries void your Meade warranty. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used for a long period of time.

Leg

Lock

Knob

Fig. 11: Adjust the tripod height using the leg lock knobs.

Fig. 13b: Reticle LED assembly: (A) Reticle Container; (B) LED;

(C) Batteries; (D) Battery Holder; (E) Threaded Lid; (F) Thumbscrew.

Fig. 12: Battery holder.

Polar

Viewfinder

Reticle LED

Fig. 13a: Remove plastic from reticle batteries

13.Remove Plastic from Reticle LED: The polar alignment reticle LED (30, Fig. 1d) contains two watch batteries. The reticle's LED is shipped with a plastic strip between the two batteries to protect battery life. Unthread both the thumbscrew (F) and the threaded lid (E). Remove the plastic strip before using. Refer to the reti- cle assembly in Fig. 13b and note the orientation of the batteries. Place the bat- teries (C) into the battery holder (D) before inserting into the reticle container (A).

Note: Remember to turn off the LED when you are not using the reticle.

14.Plug in Autostar or EC Handbox: Plug the Autostar or EC handbox cable into the HBX port (A, Fig. 1e).

Balancing the Telescope

In order for the telescope to be stable on the tripod and also for it to move smoothly, it must be balanced. To balance the telescope, unlock the Right Ascension or R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d). When this axis is unlocked, the telescope pivots on the R.A. axis. Later in the procedure, you will also unlock the Declination or Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d). When unlocked, the telescope pivots on the Dec. axis. Most of the motion of the tel- escope takes place by moving about these two axes, separately or simultaneously. Try to become familiar with these locks and observe how the telescope moves on each axis. To obtain a fine balance of the telescope, follow the method below:

1.Firmly hold the optical tube secure so that it cannot accidentally swing freely. Loosen the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d). The optical tube now moves freely about the R.A. axis. Rotate the telescope so that the counterweight shaft (22, Fig. 1d) is parallel (horizontal) to the ground.

2.Unlock the counterweight lock knob and slide the counterweight (21, Fig. 1d) along the counterweight shaft until the telescope remains in one position without 13

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Contents Meade Instruments Corporation Page Contents 1 1% g f e Telescope Features$2% LXD55-SeriesYour Personal Window to the Universe Computer Control Panel see e LXD55 Tips Features Autostar FeaturesTour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Tip Telescope Assembly How to Assemble Your TelescopeAccessories Getting StartedViewfinder assembly Schmidt-Newtonian models Insert eyepiece into holder and tighten thumbscrews Balancing the TelescopeChoosing an Eyepiece Aligning the ViewfinderObserving by Moving the Telescope Manually Too Much Power?Slew Speeds Autostar Models Only Activate the Arrow Keys Autostar Models OnlyObserve the Moon Setting the Polar Home PositionTracking Objects 16bUsing Autostars GO to Capabilities Autostar Models Only Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking FeatureInitializing Autostar Autostar Models Only Moving Through Autostar’s Menus Autostar Models OnlyTraining the Drive Autostar Models Only Go To Saturn Autostar Models Only Easy Alignment Autostar Models OnlyPlanet Saturn is over 800 million miles from the Earth Using the Guided Tour Autostar Models OnlyTo Calculate Sunset time Autostar Navigation ExerciseNavigating Autostar Entering Data into AutostarSelect Item Object Autostars MenusObject Menu MenusGlossary Menu Event MenuUtilities Menu LXD55-SeriesEnter Setup MenuObserving Considerations Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, Surf the Web To Add a Site to the user-defined site list Adding Observing SitesTo Edit a Site To GO to a user-entered object Using Autostar to Find Objects Not in the LibrariesLandmarks Observing SatellitesTo Add a landmark to the database To Select a landmark from the database To Check on the Available MemoryTo perform a Landmark Survey Few tips on photography with the LXD55-Seriestelescopes Photography10 f/4 Optional AccessoriesSeries 4000 Photo-Visual Page General Maintenance MaintenanceD e f g Page Defocused star images. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned Inspecting the Optics Meade Customer Service5 Model SN-6, SN-6EC Specifications Specifications4 Model SN-8, SN-8EC Specifications 9.3 Model AR-5, AR-5EC Specifications 10 f/4 Model SN-10 Specifications8 Model AR-6 Specifications Autostar Specifications 10 Model SC-8 SpecificationsAutostar Dimensions Appendix a Celestial Coordinates Setting CirclesOne- and Two-Star Polar Alignment Locating the Celestial PoleOne-Star Polar Alignment Two-Star Polar AlignmentProcedure #1 To correct for attitude misalignment Axis Alignment ProcedurePolar Alignment Viewfinder Method 1 Manual AlignmentPosition a Procedure #2 To correct for elevation misalignmentTips Star ChartsMethod 2 Axis Alignment Using Autostar Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World Appendix C Latitude ChartCity State/Prov./Country Latitude City Country LatitudeAppendix D EC Handbox Modes of Operation To move the telescope using the Electronic ControllerSlew Speeds Tracking Rates Optional Autostar Computer Controller for LXD55 EC Users Changing the Polar ModeMounting the SC bracket and optical tube to the mount How to Attach the Optical Tube to the MountAutostar Glossary Appendix F Basic AstronomyObjects in Space MoonDeep-Sky Objects PlanetsFurther Study Page Meade Instruments Corporation
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