Meade Telescope Assembly, Toc 1. The Field Tripod 7, 8, 10 and 12 LX200 Models

IMPORTANT NOTICE! Never use a telescope or spotting scope to look at the Sun!

Observing the Sun, even for the shortest fraction of a

second, will cause irreversible damage to your eye as well as physical damage to the telescope or spotting scope itself.

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Meade LX200 Instruction Manual

7" Maksutov-Cassegrain, and 8", 10", and 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes

C. TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY

Use the following steps to assemble your telescope. Note: Section headings list which LX200 model (7", 8", 10" or 12") is covered under that heading.

[ toc ] 1. The Field Tripod (7", 8", 10" and 12" LX200 Models)

The Field Tripods (Figs. 1 and 2) for Meade 8", 10", and 12" LX200

telescopes are supplied as completely assembled units, except for the spreader bar (4, Fig. 1) and the 6 lock knobs (2 knobs for each of the 3 tripod legs) used to adjust the height of the tripod. These knobs are packed separately for safety in shipment.

For visual (i.e. non-photographic) observations, the drive base (17, Fig. 3) of the telescope's fork mount is attached directly to the field tripod.

The telescope in this way is mounted in an "Altazimuth" ("Altitude-Azimuth," or "vertical-horizontal") format. The telescope in this configuration moves along vertical and horizontal axes, corresponding respectively to the Declination and Right Ascension axes (explained later in this manual) in an astronomical observing mode.

Alternately, the field tripod can be used in conjunction with the appropriate optional equatorial wedge (see Appendix A for instructions of the use of the equatorial wedge) for long exposure astrophotography. The equatorial wedge permits alignment of the telescope's Polar Axis with the Celestial Pole (or North Star). After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand the tripod vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed (see Fig. 2). Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position.

Thread in the 6 lock-knobs (2 on each tripod leg) near the foot of each tripod leg. Refer to Fig. 1. These lock-knobs are used to fix the height of the inner, extendible tripod leg sections. Note: "Firm feel" tightening is sufficient; over-tightening may result in stripping of the knob threads or damage to the tripod legs and results in no additional strength.

The spreader bar (4, Fig. 1) has been removed for shipment. To replace, first remove the threaded rod (2, Fig. 1) from the tripod head (1, Fig. 1); a small piece of plastic holds the threaded rod in place. Remove the small plastic bag that is stapled to the threaded rod. This bag contains the "C" clip retainer (used below)

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