Meade instruction manual Introducing the Meade LX200, Important Note

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Meade LX200 Instruction Manual

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

A. INTRODUCING THE MEADE LX200

As a new LX200 owner, you are preparing for a journey into the universe with the most advanced amateur telescope ever produced. The advent of this instrument is the culmination of twenty years of innovation and design at Meade Instruments; never before have the features you have in your hands been available to amateur astronomers: from robotic object location to the revolutionary Smart Drive and the most stable mounting structure ever. Your telescope comes to you ready for adventure; it will be your tour guide and traveling companion in a universe of planets, galaxies, and stars.

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.

Meade 8", 10", and 12" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain and 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes are instruments of advanced mirror-lens design for astronomical and terrestrial applications. Optically and mechanically, the 7", 8", 10", and 12" telescope models are perhaps the most sophisticated and precisely manufactured telescopes ever made available to the serious amateur. These telescopes enable the visual astronomer to reach out for detailed observations of the Solar System (the planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars) and beyond to distant nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. The astrophotographer will find a virtually limitless range of possibilities since, with the precision Meade worm-gear motor drive system, long exposure guided photography becomes not a distant goal, but an achievable reality. The capabilities of the instrument are essentially limited not by the telescope, but by the acquired skills of the observer and photographer.

The 7", 8", 10", and 12" LX200 are, with the exception of a few assembly operations and features, almost identical operationally. Most standard and optional accessories are interchangeable between the three telescopes. The instructions in this manual generally apply to all three telescopes; when exceptions to this rule occur, they are clearly pointed out.

IMPORTANT NOTE

If you are anxious to use your Meade LX200 Telescope for the first time, at the very least be sure to read Telescope Assembly and Quick Start sections of this manual. Thereafter, we urge you to read the balance of this manual thoroughly at your leisure, in order that you may fully enjoy the many features offered by the instrument.

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Contents Meade Instruments Corporation LX200 Keypad Hand Controller Magnification and Field of View Related Topics Appendix B Equatorial UseImportant Note Introducing the Meade LX200Toc c. Altazimuth Mode Operation Toc 1. What Is the LX200? An OverviewToc e. Keypad and Power Panel Functions Toc a. Heavy-Duty Mounts with 9-speed Dual-Axis ElectronicsToc b Model LX200 Toc a Model LX200Toc c Model LX200 Toc d Model LX200Page We strongly recommend that you keep your original packing Unpacking and InspectionToc 1. What You Should Have Toc 2. Please Look Everything OverToc 4. Caution All LX200 Owners Keypad Version Number Toc 1. The Field Tripod 7, 8, 10 and 12 LX200 Models Telescope AssemblyPrecautionary Notes Page Toc 2. Mounting the Viewfinder 7, 8, 10, and 12 LX200 Models Toc c. Collimating the Viewfinder Toc b. Focusing the ViewfinderToc a. Attaching the Viewfinder Toc 6 Tube Swing-Through Limit Toc 4. Checking the Collimation of the OpticsToc 5 Tube Swing-Through Limit Toc 7. Maksutov Fan Quick Start Toc 1. Using the LX200 ManuallyToc 2. Using the LX200 In Land Toc a. Entering Basic Information Toc 3. Using the LX200 In Altazimuth AltazMotion Speeds Toc 1 Latitude and Longitude of the Observing Site Toc 2 Local Time and Date Toc b. Setting Up the Telescope Page Toc c. Using the Telescope Toc 1 The Mode Key Toc 3 Daytime Slewing Toc 2 Library Object KeysNext LX200 Keypad Hand Controller Toc 1. Enter Key Toc 2. Mode KeyToc 3. GO to Key Toc 4. Direction KeysToc 7. Focus Key Toc 6. RET KeyToc 8. MAP Key Toc 9. Object Keys M, STAR, and CngcPage Toc 1. ON/ OFF Switch LX200 Power PanelToc 4. DEC Motor Connector Toc 2. N/S SwitchToc 5. CCD Connector Toc 6. Power 12vDC ConnectorToc 9. Focuser Connector Toc 8. Reticle ConnectorToc 10. RS-232 Connector Toc 11. Aux ConnectorPage Toc 1. Mode One TELESCOPE/ Object Library Mode FunctionsToc a. Telescope Menu File Toc 1 SiteToc a Altaz Toc 2 AlignToc a -Star with Known Site Toc b -Star at Known SiteToc d. Which Alignment Method To Use? Toc c. Unknown SitePage Toc c Refined Polar Alignment Toc b PolarToc 3 Smart Toc e LandToc 5 Help Toc 4 12/24 HRToc 6 Reverse NS Toc 7 Reverse EWToc a LX200 Pointing Accuracy Toc 9 HP High-Precision PointingToc 11 DEC. Backlash Compensation Toc 2 Start Find Toc b. Object Library Menu FileToc 4 Parameters Toc 3 FieldToc a Type Gpdco Object Sysmbol LegendToc b Better Quality Symbol LegendToc c Higher Toc d LargerToc e Smaller Toc 2. Mode Two COORDINATES/ GO toToc f Brighter Toc g FainterToc c. Slew To Altaz Coordinates Toc 3. Mode Three CLOCK/ CalendarToc b. GO to Menu Option Toc b. FREQ= Menu File Toc 4. Mode Four TIMER/ Freq a. Timer = Menu OptionDrive Rate Settings Toc 5. Mode Five Keypad OFF/ Brightness Adjust Magnification and Field of View toc 1. Magnifications O.D., except as noted Toc 2. Apparent Field and Actual FieldPage Toc 1 Equatorial Wedge For 7 and 8 LX200 Appendix a Equatorial WedgeToc a. Azimuth Control Equatorial Wedge for 7 and 8 LX200 TelescopeToc b. Deluxe Latitude Adjuster Toc 2. Superwedge For 10 and 12LX200 Mounting Superwedge, b Latitude Range Holes Page Underside of the Drive Base Toc a. Setting Magnetic Declination Toc b. Compass Installation Toc c. Finding True North Page Page Next Page Toc 1. Celestial Coordinates Declination and Right Ascension Appendix B Equatorial USEPage Toc 2. Lining Up with the Celestial Pole Toc 3. Precise Polar Alignment Page Next Toc LX200 Alignment Star Library Appendix C LX200 Alignment Star Library and Star ChartsToc 1. Alignment Stars Star Charts for Northern Hemisphere Observers Page Next Page Toc 2. The Cngc Catalog Cngc Listings VQ GuideCngc Types Toc 3. The Star Catalog TagsToc 5. The M Catalog Toc 4. Select Star by NameToc 6. The Planets Object Library Planet Legend Toc 7. Other DatabasesConstellation Codes Related Topics Page Meade Instruments Corporation Page Toc 2. Collimation Alignment of the Optical System Page Defocused Star Images Toc 5. Factory Servicing and Repairs Toc 3. Adjusting the Right Ascension LockToc 4. Behind the Power Panel
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