Meade LXD55 instruction manual Inspecting the Optics, Meade Customer Service

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Inspecting the Optics

A Note About the “Flashlight Test: If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle of the light) may reveal what appears to be scratches, dark or bright spots, or just generally uneven coatings, giving the appearance of poor qual- ity optics. These items are only seen when a high intensity light is transmitted through lenses or reflected off the mirrors, and can be seen on any high quality optical sys- tem, including giant research telescopes.

The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by the “flashlight test;" the true test of optical quality can only be conducted through careful star testing.

Meade Customer Service

If you have a question concerning your LXD55-Series telescope, contact the Meade Instruments Customer Service Department at:

Telephone: (949) 451-1450

Fax: (949) 451-1460

Customer Service hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. In the unlikely event that your LXD55-Seriestelescope requires factory servic- ing or repairs, write or call the Meade Customer Service Department first, before returning the telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as to the nature of the problem, as well as your name, address, and daytime telephone number. The great majority of servicing issues can be resolved by telephone, avoiding return of the tele- scope to the factory. If factory service is required, you will be assigned a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number prior to return.

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Contents Meade Instruments Corporation Page Contents Telescope Features 1 1% g f e$2% LXD55-SeriesYour Personal Window to the Universe Computer Control Panel see e LXD55 Tips Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Autostar FeaturesFeatures Tip How to Assemble Your Telescope Telescope AssemblyAccessories Getting StartedViewfinder assembly Schmidt-Newtonian models Balancing the Telescope Insert eyepiece into holder and tighten thumbscrewsAligning the Viewfinder Choosing an EyepieceToo Much Power? Observing by Moving the Telescope ManuallyActivate the Arrow Keys Autostar Models Only Slew Speeds Autostar Models OnlySetting the Polar Home Position Observe the MoonTracking Objects 16bObserve a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature Using Autostars GO to Capabilities Autostar Models OnlyMoving Through Autostar’s Menus Autostar Models Only Initializing Autostar Autostar Models OnlyTraining the Drive Autostar Models Only Easy Alignment Autostar Models Only Go To Saturn Autostar Models OnlyUsing the Guided Tour Autostar Models Only Planet Saturn is over 800 million miles from the EarthAutostar Navigation Exercise To Calculate Sunset timeEntering Data into Autostar Navigating AutostarAutostars Menus Select Item ObjectMenus Object MenuEvent Menu Glossary MenuUtilities Menu LXD55-SeriesSetup Menu EnterObserving Considerations Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, Surf the Web To Edit a Site Adding Observing SitesTo Add a Site to the user-defined site list Using Autostar to Find Objects Not in the Libraries To GO to a user-entered objectTo Add a landmark to the database Observing SatellitesLandmarks To perform a Landmark Survey To Check on the Available MemoryTo Select a landmark from the database Photography Few tips on photography with the LXD55-SeriestelescopesOptional Accessories 10 f/4Series 4000 Photo-Visual Page Maintenance General MaintenanceD e f g Page Defocused star images. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned Meade Customer Service Inspecting the Optics4 Model SN-8, SN-8EC Specifications Specifications5 Model SN-6, SN-6EC Specifications 8 Model AR-6 Specifications 10 f/4 Model SN-10 Specifications9.3 Model AR-5, AR-5EC Specifications Autostar Dimensions 10 Model SC-8 SpecificationsAutostar Specifications Setting Circles Appendix a Celestial CoordinatesLocating the Celestial Pole One- and Two-Star Polar AlignmentOne-Star Polar Alignment Two-Star Polar AlignmentAxis Alignment Procedure Procedure #1 To correct for attitude misalignmentPolar Alignment Viewfinder Method 1 Manual AlignmentProcedure #2 To correct for elevation misalignment Position aStar Charts TipsMethod 2 Axis Alignment Using Autostar Appendix C Latitude Chart Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldCity State/Prov./Country Latitude City Country LatitudeAppendix D EC Handbox Slew Speeds To move the telescope using the Electronic ControllerModes of Operation Tracking Rates Changing the Polar Mode Optional Autostar Computer Controller for LXD55 EC UsersHow to Attach the Optical Tube to the Mount Mounting the SC bracket and optical tube to the mountAppendix F Basic Astronomy Autostar GlossaryObjects in Space MoonPlanets Deep-Sky ObjectsFurther Study Page Meade Instruments Corporation