Meade 60AZ-A2 instruction manual Taking Care of Your Telescope, Optional Accessories

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Eyepiece’s magnification x 2

=

Magnification with a 2X Barlow lens

Your 25mm low-power eyepiece magnifies an object 28 times. Multiply 28 by 2 and you get 56 times magnification with your Barlow.

It’s worth repeating: Keep in mind that a bright, clear, but smaller image is more interesting than a larger, dimmer, fuzzy one. Using too high a power eyepiece is one of the most common mistakes made by new astronomers. So don’t think that higher magnification is necessarily better—quite often the best view is with lower magnification value!

TAKING CARE OF YOUR TELESCOPE

Your telescope is a precision optical instrument designed for a lifetime of rewarding viewing. It will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing or maintenance. Follow these guidelines to keep your telescope in the best condition:

Avoid cleaning the telescope’s lenses. A little dust on the front surface of the telescope’s correcting lens will not cause

loss of image quality.

When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with very gentle strokes of a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at most pharmacies).

Fingerprints and organic materials on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1 drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often.

CAUTION: Do not use scented or lotioned tissues or damage could result to the optics. DO NOT use a commercial photographic lens cleaner.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

#928 45° Erecting Prism (1.25 O.D.): Correctly orients the telescopic image during terrestrial observing and yields an image position at a 45° angle to the main telescope tube, resulting in a more comfor- table observing position in most cases.

Additional Eyepieces (1.25" barrel diameter): For higher or lower magnifications with the telescopes 13 that accommodate 1.25" eyepieces, Meade 3-element Modified Achro-

matic eyepieces, available in a wide variety of sizes, provide a high level of image resolution and color correction at an eco- nomical price. Also, at slightly higher prices, Meade 4-element Series 4000 Super Plössl eyepieces yield wider fields of view with excellent edge-of-field corrections and are available in a range of focal lengths including 6.4, 9.7, 12.4, 15, 20, 26, 32, and 40mm.

JOIN AN ASTRONOMY CLUB, ATTEND A STAR PARTY

One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/ store to find out if there’s a club in your area.

Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky and Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star Parties around the United States and Canada.

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Contents 60AZ-A2 40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 1054 AM Introduction D f e Attach the Accessory Tray Assemble Your TripodAttach the Optical Tube to the Mount Attach the Viewfinder Attach the Diagonal Mirror and EyepieceAlign the Viewfinder Meade 4M Community To Move the TelescopeSUN Warning Never USE Your Telescope to Look AT the SUN Most Important RuleObserving TOO Much POWER?40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 1054 AM 40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 1054 AM Surf the WEB Some Observing TipsStar Charts Astronomy Resources Have a Good Time Astronomy is FUN Specifications40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 1054 AM Optional Accessories Taking Care of Your TelescopeJoin AN Astronomy CLUB, Attend a Star Party Meade Limited Warranty Meade Customer ServiceDrawing of Image 40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 1055 AM 40-04135 8 Page Manual Template 6/29/05 1055 AM 92618