Meade LXD55 instruction manual Autostar Features, Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button

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Important Note: The model SN-6EC, model SN-8EC, and model AR- 5EC are equipped with an Electronic Controller handbox, rather than the Autostar Handbox. Several of the following procedures, such as Tracking Objects and Initializing Autostar (to name but a few), are rele- vant only to models equipped with the Autostar handbox and do not apply to the EC mod- els. For more information about the EC handbox, see APPENDIX D: EC HANDBOX, page 55.

Note: Autostar does not require batteries; the tele- scope’s batteries supply power to Autostar.

AUTOSTAR FEATURES

Fig. 2: The Autostar Handbox.

Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button

Control of most LXD55-Seriestelescope 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. Some of the major fea- tures of Autostar are:

■Automatic GO TO capability: Automatically move the telescope to any of the more than 30,000 objects stored in the object library.

■Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year.

■Download the latest satellite data and software revisions directly from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and share software with other Autostar enthusiasts. Requires optional #505 AstroFinder™ Software and Cable Connector Kit. See

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 38.

■Access a glossary of astronomical terms.

■Fully automatic tracking of celestial objects.

Features

The Autostar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope func- tion within a compact handbox. Autostar has soft-touch keys designed to have a pos- itive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential menu structure make Autostar extremely user friendly.

B2-Line LCD Display: This screen displays Autostar's menus and other informa- tion about the telescope.

■Top line: Lists the primary menu.

■Bottom line: Contains other menus that may be selected, menu options, tele- scope status, or information about a function that is currently being performed.

CENTER Key: Press to go to the next menu level or to choose an option in a menu. The ENTER key is similar to the RETURN or ENTER key on a computer. See MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR'S MENUS, page 19 and AUTOSTAR’S MENUS, page 25.

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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 Autostar Features 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 Adding Observing Sites To Add a Site to the user-defined site listTo Edit a Site To GO to a user-entered object Using Autostar to Find Objects Not in the LibrariesObserving Satellites LandmarksTo Add a landmark to the database To Check on the Available Memory To Select a landmark from the databaseTo 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 ServiceSpecifications 5 Model SN-6, SN-6EC Specifications4 Model SN-8, SN-8EC Specifications 10 f/4 Model SN-10 Specifications 9.3 Model AR-5, AR-5EC Specifications8 Model AR-6 Specifications 10 Model SC-8 Specifications Autostar 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 To move the telescope using the Electronic Controller Modes of OperationSlew 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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