Aligning the LT Series, North | Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series

Aligning the LT Series

As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it automatically tracks the stars and other objects in the night sky. If the telescope is not tracking an astronomical object, the object will drift out of the eyepiece ﬁeld of view. The tracking function automatically keeps an object more or less centered in the telescope’s eyepiece.

To automatically track and locate objects in the night sky, the LT Series must ﬁrst be aligned on the sky. It is best to set up the telescope in twilight or before sunset the ﬁrst time you use the LT Series. Setup the telescope in a large open area where you can see lots of the night sky. Make sure the ground is stable and approximately level. It is best to setup the scope away from bright nighttime lighting. Bright lights will spoil your night vision and impede you ability to see the sky.

The LT Series Home Position

Once the LT Series is fully assembled, you will ﬁrst need to initialize AutoStar, set the telescope into the home position, and perform the Easy Alignment in order for the LT Series to successfully locate celestial objects. The home position for the LT Series is with the telescope optical tube level and pointed in the direction of either True North or Magnetic North. See Figure 6. Either North direction can be used and the LT Series will prompt you to which North direction the optical tube is pointing before beginning an alignment. Once the telescope is fully assembled and outside under the night sky, follow the steps below to correctly place the telescope into the home position.

Magnetic North Home Position

1.Using the up/down arrow keys (pg. 19, Fig. 5, 5) on the AutoStar controller, move the telescope so that the optical tube is approximately level. Place the included bubble level/compass into the diagonal prism and use the AutoStar left/right arrow keys (pg. 19, Fig. 5, 5) to move the telescope so the optical tube is lined up with the compass needle. The telescope will then be pointing in the direction of Magnetic North.

2.Now use the up/down arrow keys on the AutoStar controller to level the optical tube using bubble level feature to precisely level the optical tube.

3.The telescope is now in the Magnetic North Home Position.

True North Home Position

1.Using the up/down arrow keys (pg. 19, Fig. 5, 5) on the AutoStar controller, move the telescope so that the optical tube is approximately level. Now use the left/right arrow keys (pg. 19, Fig. 5, 5) to move the telescope so the optical tube is pointing in the direction of True North (the north star Polaris).

2.Now use the up/down arrow keys on the AutoStar controller to level the optical tube. The included bubble level/compass can be place into the diagonal prism and has a built in bubble level feature that will aide in leveling the optical tube if needed.

3.The telescope is now in the True North Home Position.

North

Telescope

Tube is level

Figure 6: Alt/Az Home Position

Compass needle is pointing to Magnetic North

Bubble is centered

Figure 7: Bubble Level/Compass

AutoStarLIGNING#497THE LTHANDBOXSERIES

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LT Series, LT ACF Series, LT SC Series specifications

The Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series, and LT Series telescopes are designed to meet the diverse needs of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers alike. Each of these series caters to various levels of experience while incorporating advanced features and technologies that enhance observational stability and image quality.

The Meade LT SC Series, featuring the advanced Schmidt-Cassegrain design, excels in versatility. This series includes different aperture sizes, allowing users to view celestial objects ranging from the moon to distant galaxies. The telescopes come equipped with an AudioStar hand controller that provides a database of over 30,000 celestial objects, enabling users to easily locate and track their subjects. The built-in GPS feature facilitates effortless alignment by automatically determining the user’s location and time.

In contrast, the LT ACF Series showcases Meade's innovative Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optics. This design minimizes coma and field curvature, providing sharp, crisp images across a wider field of view. Ideal for astrophotography, this series is enhanced by features like a fast focal ratio for better imaging of dim objects and a robust construction that ensures stability during use. The LT ACF telescopes also support advanced imaging techniques, allowing users to capture stunning images of deep-sky objects while minimizing aberrations.

The classic LT Series remains a favorite among beginners. Known for its straightforward setup and usability, this series is designed with a lightweight and portable frame. The LT Series telescope is equipped with an altazimuth mount, making it user-friendly for quick observations. The simplicity allows new astronomers to start observing with minimal technical knowledge. Additionally, these telescopes support a variety of accessories such as smartphone adapters, making it easy for users to capture their observations.

All three series incorporate Meade's proprietary StarLock technology in certain models, which facilitates automated tracking. This feature frees astronomers from the complexities of manual tracking, allowing them to focus more on the experience of observing celestial wonders.

In summary, the Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series, and LT Series deliver exceptional optical performance and user-friendly features, making them suitable for a wide range of astronomy enthusiasts. Whether you are a seasoned astrophotographer or a novice sky-watcher, Meade's telescopes provide the technology and capabilities needed to explore the universe.

Meade LT SC Series Aligning the LT Series, LT Series Home Position, Magnetic North Home Position

Models: LT Series LT ACF Series LT SC Series