CONTENTS

Introduction

A solid telescope built for a lifetime of service . . . . . . . . . . .5

Telescope Features

Multi-Mount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Robust Aluminum Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Gears and Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Tripod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

AudioStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Counterweight Shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Industry Standard Dovetail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

LX80 Key Features

Figure 1: Rear View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Figure 2: Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Figure 3: Control Panel – Detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Figure 4: Controls – Overall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Figure 5: Drive Base Close-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Figure 6: Tripod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Figure 7: Hex-Head Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Figure 8: Azimuth Adjustment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Figure 9: Latitude Adjustment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Figure 10: Latitude Pivot Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Figure 11: Latitude Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Key Features Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14

Getting Started

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Tripod set-up and assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Mount Head to Tripod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Attach counterweight shaft(s) to mount . . . . . . . . . . .16 Mount counterweight(s) to shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Mount Optical tube assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Assemble Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Insert Eyepiece. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Level the mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Install Batteries or connect AC Adapter . . . . . . . . . . .18 Connect AudioStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Balancing the Telescope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Aligning the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Choosing an Eyepiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Observing By Moving the Telescope Manually. . . . . .21 Using AudioStar’s GoTo Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Moving Through AudioStar’s Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Activate the Arrow Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Slew Speeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Playing Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Entering Data Into AudioStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Navigating AudioStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Observe the Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Tracking Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

The LX80 Multi-Mount System

Aligning the LX80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Initializing AudioStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Alt-Azimuth Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Setting the Alt-Azimuth Home position . . . . . . . . .25 Finding True North. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Finding Magnetic North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Easy (Two-Star) Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 How to perform the Easy Align Procedure . . . . . .26

GoTo Saturn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Using the Guided Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Equatorial Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Setting the Polar Home Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Locating the Celestial Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Easy Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 How to perform the Easy Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 GoTo Saturn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Using the Guided Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Dual OTA Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Alt-Azimuth Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

AudioStar Handbox

Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button . . . .33 AudioStar Handbox Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Observation Using AudioStar’s Arrow Keys . . . . . . . .36 Playing the Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Terrestrial Observing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

AudioStar Operation

AudioStar Navigation Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

AudioStar Menus

Object Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

AudioStar Menu Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Event Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Glossary Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Utilities Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 .

Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Advanced AudioStar Features

Adding Observing Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Find Objects Not in the Database. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 To GoTo a user-entered object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Observing Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Identify . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Training the Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Advanced alt/az Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Browse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Optional Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Customer Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Appendix A: Training the Drive . . . . . . . .57

Appendix B: Basic Astronomy . . . . . . . .58

Appendix C: Specifications. . . . . . . . . . .60

Appendix D: Equatorial Alignment . . . . .61

Polar Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Locating the Celestial Pole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Precise Polar Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Periodic Error Correction (PEC) Training . . . . . . .64

Appendix E: Latitude Chart . . . . . . . . . .65

Appendix F: Declination North America 66

Appendix G: Declination Global . . . . . . .67

Recycling Information (Europe) . . . . . . .68

Meade Limited Warranty

One Year Limited Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Page 4
Image 4
Meade LX80 instruction manual Contents

LX80 specifications

The Meade LX80 is a versatile and innovative telescope designed to cater to both novice astronomers and experienced stargazers. Its combination of performance, ease of use, and advanced features makes it a popular choice among enthusiasts seeking to explore the cosmos.

One of the standout characteristics of the LX80 is its extensive GoTo mount system, which allows users to automatically locate and track celestial objects with remarkable precision. This feature is powered by a database containing over 30,000 astronomical objects, providing a broad range of targets for exploration. The telescope's integrated GPS ensures swift alignment with the night sky, simplifying setup and enhancing the observing experience.

The LX80 employs advanced technology with its heavy-duty dual-axis equatorial mount, providing stability and sturdiness. This design is particularly beneficial for astrophotography, as it minimizes vibrations and allows for longer exposure times without blurring. Additionally, the mount is compatible with various optical tubes, enabling users to customize their setup according to their specific interests, whether it’s planetary observation or deep-sky photography.

Another impressive feature of the Meade LX80 is its SmartDrive technology, which continually corrects any tracking errors, ensuring smooth and accurate movement across the night sky. This is especially helpful for capturing high-quality images of celestial bodies. The telescope can also be controlled via a smartphone or tablet using the optional Meade app, which further adds to its user-friendly design.

The LX80's optical performance is equally commendable. Many models come with a high-quality optical tube, offering superb light-gathering capabilities. The telescope's aperture, typically ranging from 6 to 10 inches, makes it well-suited for observing faint deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, as well as brighter targets such as planets.

In terms of portability, the LX80 is designed to be compact, making it easier to transport to dark-sky locations. The telescope can be quickly set up and dismantled, accommodating astronomers who wish to observe in various settings.

Overall, the Meade LX80 stands out as a dynamic and feature-rich telescope. With its powerful GoTo capabilities, advanced tracking technology, and customizable optics, it offers a well-rounded observational experience. Whether you're peering through the eyepiece for the first time or capturing stunning images of the universe, the LX80 is equipped to meet your astronomical needs.