Toc 1. What Is the LX200? An Overview

Meade Instruments Corporation - Meade LX200 Instruction Manuals

[ toc ] 1. What Is the LX200? An Overview

Meade LX200 SCT's mark a new era in telescope technology for the amateur astronomer, whether beginner or seasoned veteran. For the beginner, LX200 electronics permit the location and observation of the major planets as well as hundreds of deep-sky objects the very first night you use the telescope. For the experienced amateur the telescope's pushbutton electric slewing, digital readouts, Smart Drive, and much more open up visual and photographic capabilities heretofore undreamed of.

[ toc ] a. Heavy-Duty Mounts with 9-speed Dual-Axis Electronics

DC-servo-motor-controlled worm gear drives on both telescope axes permit observatory-level precision in tracking, guiding, and slewing. The 9-speed dual-axis drives cover every possible contingency of telescope positioning: Press the SLEW button on the keypad controller for rapid motion of the telescope across the skies at up to 8 ° per sec. (6 ° per sec. for the 12" LX200) on both axes simultaneously; once near the target, switch instantly to the FIND speed for centering in the viewfinder at 2 ° per sec. Observing the object in the main telescope, use the CNTR speed (32x sidereal) to place the object in the center of the field. During long-exposure astrophotography press the GUIDE button for precise corrections at 2x sidereal speed.

[ toc ] b. Built-in 64,359-Object Library

Enter into the keypad any of the 110 Messier objects, 7,840 of the finest NGC objects (galaxies, diffuse or planetary nebulae, star clusters), one of the 8 major planets from Mercury to Pluto, one of 351 alignment stars or any one of 56,050 SAO, UGC, IC or GCVS objects, press GO TO, and the telescope automatically slews, or moves, to the object at up to 8° per sec., centering it in the main telescope field.

[ toc ] c. Altazimuth Mode Operation

For all visual observing applications, and for lunar and planetary photography, Meade LX200's may be set up in the Altazimuth mode. Just attach the telescope's drive base directly to the tripod, use the fast 1-star alignment procedure, and the telescope's computer actuates 2-axis tracking that keeps objects precisely centered in the field, even at high powers, during the entire observing session.

[ toc ] d. Terrestrial Operation

Meade LX200's make incredible land-view telescopes. Set the telescope up in the Altazimuth format, activate the Land menu option on the telescope's computer, and use the Keypad to track land objects on both axes at any of the same 4 drive speeds!

[ toc ] e. Keypad and Power Panel Functions

The multifunction capability of LX200's includes direct connection of popular CCD autoguider/imagers; RS- 232 serial interface with a personal computer (PC), allowing the user to perform all of the Keypad functions through, or write custom telescope software for a PC; brightness level control of an illuminated reticle eyepiece from the Keypad and including special pulse-mode reticle operation.

[ toc ] 2. Standard Equipment

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