Meade instruction manual LX80 Series Your Personal Window to the Universe, LX80 Key Features

LX80 Series: Your Personal Window to the Universe

The Meade LX80 Series models are versatile, high- resolution telescopes. Supplied with an AudioStar handbox, the LX80 Series models offer unmatched mechanical and electronic performance.

The LX80 Series telescopes reveal nature in an ever-expanding level of detail. Observe the feather structure of an eagle from 50 yards or study the rings of the planet Saturn from a distance of 800 million miles. Focus beyond the Solar System and observe majestic nebulae, ancient star clusters, and remote galaxies. Meade LX80 Series telescopes are instruments fully capable of growing with your interest and can meet the requirements of the most demanding advanced observer.

Refer to Figures 1 through 11 for the following features:

Viewfinder: 8x50, wide-field sighting scope with crosshairs that enables easy centering of objects in the telescope eyepiece.

Viewfinder Collimation Screws: Adjust these screws to align the viewfinder. See Page 20 for more information.

Viewfinder Front Cell and Locking Ring: Adjust the front cell to focus the viewfinder. See step 3, Page 20 for more details. The viewfinder is supplied with a small dust cover placed over the front cell.

Viewfinder Bracket: Holds the viewfinder in place.

Viewfinder Bracket Screws: Tighten to a firm feel to hold viewfinder securely in place.

Eyepiece: Place the supplied eyepiece into the Diagonal (Page 18, Fig. 23) and tighten in place with locking thumbscrew.

Accessory Adapter: The diagonal mirror is inserted into this adapter.

Adapter Thumbscrews: Tighten to secure the Diagonal in place.

Focus Lock Knob (Refractor Only): Designed to prevent the focuser drawtube from moving when a heavy accessory, such as a camera, is attached to the focuser assembly. For normal

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observing with an eyepiece and diagonal, it is not necessary to use the lock knob.

Star Diagonal with Adapter: Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing. Provides a more comfortable right-angle viewing position. Slide the diagonal directly into the Adapter and tighten the thumbscrew to a firm feel only. See Page 18 for a photo and more information.

2-Speed Crayford Style Focusing System (Refractors Only): Moves the telescope’s focuser in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus. Rotate the focus knob clockwise to focus on a distant object.

AudioStar Handbox: The LX80 user interface. Use the handbox to command the LX80 to automatically slew to any object in the night sky. See pages 33 thru 43 for a description of features.

AudioStar Coil Cord: Connects the handbox to the Computer Control Panel via the HBX port.

Dovetail Lock Knobs: Be sure to securely tighten to hold the OTA dovetail in place.

Vixen®-style Dovetail Receiver: Place OTA dovetail here.

Cradle Rings (Refractor Only): Part of the cradle assembly; holds the optical tube firmly in place.

Optical Tube Assembly (OTA): The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece.

Dust Cover: Place the dust cover (not visible in photo) over the OTAs primary objective lens when storing the telescope.

Note: The dust cover should be replaced after each observing session and the power turned off to the telescope. Allow time for any dew that might have collected during the observing session to evaporate prior to replacing the dust cover.

Telescope Control Panel:

A.Power-On Lamp

B.12v DC Power Connector

C.ON/OFF Switch

LX80 Key Features

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