Meade LX200 instruction manual

Meade Instruments Corporation - Meade LX200 Instruction Manuals

Steps 2 and 3 above, are not necessary for the telescope to work, so don't worry about having to get it exactly right. The telescope has some "illegal" positions (places where the telescope will not go) and these two steps ensure proper operation.

4.Turn the telescope on. After a few seconds (after the self- diagnostic test is complete), the display will look like Display 15.

5.Press the ENTER key. This selects the TELESCOPE functions. The display should look like Display 16.

6.Press the NEXT key. This will move the arrow to the lower line (see Display 17).

7.Press the ENTER key to select the ALIGN function. The display will look like Display 18. (If the display looks like Display

19- with a checkmark already next to ALTAZ, go to step 9.)

8.Press the ENTER key to activate the ALTAZ mode. The Keypad Hand Controller will beep and display a checkmark next to the ALTAZ (see Display 19).

9.Press the ENTER key to use the checked mode (ALTAZ). The Keypad Hand Controller display will look like Display 20.

10.If you have not already leveled the telescope, do so now. When the telescope is level, select 1 STAR or 2 STAR alignment. The display will look like Display 21.

11.This message simply reminds you what you should do next. Press ENTER to show a display like Display 22.

12.Using the monthly star charts in Appendix C, pick an alignment star. Look at the chart for the current month and face the direction indicated. The constellations shown are easily found–even in the city. The charts are approximately 90° wide, with the top of the chart indicating straight up. If the time is after 9:00 P.M., then use the next month's chart. Once you identify the constellation, pick any of the labeled stars that is not within a 10° radius of overhead, but do not choose Polaris, for reasons made clear below. Polaris is also known as the North Star, and is shown for reference only.

The TELESCOPE and OBJECT LIBRARY features are accessed through a series of menus, which are shown on the Keypad Hand Controller Display. You can scroll up or down through the list of choices by using the PREV and NEXT keys, and select the indicated menu option with the ENTER key. Menu choices that are shown in lower case letters are unavailable in the current operating mode (LAND, ALTAZ, or POLAR). If you try to select a lower case menu option, the Keypad Hand Controller will emit three warning beeps. Three beeps always indicate an attempt to perform an invalid telescope operation.

When aligning in ALTAZ, overhead stars can confuse the LX200 because of an illegal position that prevents the optical tube assembly from slewing past 90° Altitude to protect the viewfinder from hitting the

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