Manuals / Meade / Lawn and Garden / Telescope

Meade LX80 AudioStar, Counterweight Shaft, Control Panel, Industry Standard Dovetail Adapter

Models: LX80

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AudioStar	Counterweight Shaft

Telescope Features

AudioStar™ computer-control handbox. Meade’s revolutionary AudioStar computer controller ﬁnds and points your telescope to over 30,000 objects in the night sky. With its Astronomer Inside™ digital audio technology, everyone around the telescope can listen and learn about the 500-plus celestial objects contained in its database, including planets, nebulae, star clusters, the Moon and much more.

Control Panel

Includes 12v power connector, handbox port and two auxiliary ports for connecting optional equipment.

Large sectional counterweight shafts allows for selecting the ideal shaft length for counter balancing or dual-tube conﬁgurations.

Industry Standard Dovetail Adapter

Vixen-style dovetail OTA mounting. The die-cast aluminum, industry-standard dovetail adapters provides compatibility with most OTAs.

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Meade LX80 AudioStar, Counterweight Shaft, Control Panel, Industry Standard Dovetail Adapter, Telescope Features

Contents

Instruction Manual LX80 Multi-Mount Telescope System With Astronomer InsidePage Caution If batteries or parts are swallowed, see a doctor immediately BATTERY SAFETY INSTRUCTIONSCONTENTS A solid telescope built for a lifetime of service IntroductionINTRODUCTION The LX80 TelescopeRobust Aluminum Construction Telescope FeaturesTelescope Features LX80 Multi-MountIndustry Standard Dovetail Adapter Counterweight ShaftAudioStar Control PanelLX80 Key Features LX80 Key FeaturesFigure 1 LX80 Key Features - Rear View LX80 Key Features LX80 Key FeaturesFigure 2 LX80 Key Features - Front View Figure 3 LX80 Control Panel - Detail A. B. C. D. E. FLX80 Key Features LX80 Key FeaturesFigure 5 LX80 Drive Base Close-up 4$ 4%LX80 Key Features LX80 Key FeaturesFig 8 Azimuth Adjustment Adjustments for German EQ ModeLX80 Key Features LX80 Key FeaturesTelescope Control Panel LX80 Series Your Personal Window to the UniverseLX80 Key Features Vixen-style Dovetail Receiver Place OTA dovetail hereLX80 Key Features 2# 2$ 2%3# 3$ 3% 4# 4$ 4%Fig 13 Spread the tripod legs How to Assemble Your TelescopeGetting Started Getting StartedFig 16 Tighten three 3 knobs at underside Fig 17 Thread-on counterweight shaftGetting Started 4. Attach mount to tripod base. Place the mountFig 20 Slide dovetail into bracket and secure Getting StartedAttach viewﬁnder to the OTA Fig 19 Tighten DEC lockFig 23 Insert eyepiece into diagonal Fig 24 Plug AudioStar into HBX connectorGetting Started Fig 22 Secure diagonal into holderFig 25 While maintaining hold of OTA, loosen the DEC lock Balancing the TelescopeRA Right Ascension Balance Getting StartedFig 28 Loosen RA lock - right and left sides Aligning the ViewﬁnderFig 31 Adjust counterweight to achieve balance Getting StartedObserving by Moving the Telescope Manually Choosing an EyepieceGetting Started Slew Speeds Using AudioStar’s GoTo CapabilitiesMoving Through AudioStar’s Menus Activate the Arrow KeysObserve the Moon Playing AudioEntering Data into AudioStar Navigating AudioStarAligning the LX80 LX80 Multi-Mount SystemThe LX80 Multi-Mount System Initializing AudioStarFinding True North Setting the Alt-Azimuth Home PositionThe LX80 Multi-Mount System Alt-Azimuth ModeThe LX80 Multi-Mount System Perform the Easy Align ProcedureFinding Magnetic North Easy Two-Star AlignGo To Saturn Using the Guided TourThe LX80 Multi-Mount System The LX80 Multi-Mount System Setting the Polar Home PositionEquatorial Mode Fig 35 Tilt the mount head using hex head toolThe LX80 Multi-Mount System How to perform the Easy AlignLocating the Celestial Pole Easy AlignGo To Saturn Using the Guided TourNote AudioStar locates alignment stars based on the date, time and location entered. Using this information and the Polar Home Position as its starting point, the alignment stars should easily be placed within the viewﬁnder. The alignment stars may change from night to night. All that is required is for the observer to center the selected stars in the eyepiece when prompted The LX80 Multi-Mount SystemFig 37 Dual OTA Alt-Az Dual OTA ModeThe LX80 Multi-Mount System Alt-Azimuth ModeThe LX80 Multi-Mount System LX80 TIPSObserving Considerations 2-Line LCD Display AudioStar HandboxAudioStar Handbox Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a ButtonAudioStar Handbox Control your LX80 with your PC using a serial interfaceSlew Speeds AudioStar HandboxAudioStar Handbox Observation Using AudioStar’s Arrow KeysPlaying the Audio Terrestrial ObservingTo Calculate Sunset time AudioStar OperationAudioStar Operation AudioStar Navigation ExerciseAudioStar Operation Object MenuAudioStar #497 MENU TREE AudioStar #497 Menu TreeFigure 43 The AudioStar #497 Menu Tree AudioStar Operation Event MenuGlossary Menu Utilities MenuNote This feature is usually only required in very cold weather Setup MenuAudioStar Operation selected telescope AudioStar OperationDelete Deletes a stored site from the database AudioStar OperationTo Add a Site to the user-deﬁned site list Advanced AudioStar FeaturesAudioStar Operation Adding Observing SitesAudioStar Operation Using AudioStar to Find Objects Not in the DatabaseTo GoTo a user-entered object Observing SatellitesTo Add a landmark to the database LandmarksAudioStar Operation NOTE Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. MostTo perform a Landmark Survey IdentifyAudioStar Operation To Select a landmark from the databaseAudioStar Operation Training the DriveDisplayed information Example AudioStar Operation Advanced alt/az AlignmentBrowse Too Much Power?Photography with a Digital Camera Photography with the LX80PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE LX80 A few tips on photography with the LX80Photography with Meade’s AudioStar Suite Photography with the LX80Series 5000 HD-60 Optional AccessoriesOptional Accessories Series 5000 Ultra Wide AngleOptional Accessories Inspecting the Optics MaintenanceMAINTENANCE Storage and TransportObject appears in the viewﬁnder but not in the eyepiece TROUBLESHOOTINGTroubleshooting Unable to see an image through the eyepiecePage Customer ServiceCUSTOMER SERVICE Telescope pauses when changing slew directionTraining the DriveAppendix APPENDIX AObjects in Space Appendix B Basic AstronomyAPPENDIX B BASIC ASTRONOMYDeep-Sky Objects Appendix B Basic Astronomycations APPENDIX C SPECIFICATIONSAppendix C Speciﬁ EQUATORIAL POLAR ALIGNMENT AlignmentAppendix D Equatorial Polar APPENDIX DAudioStar Polar Alignment Appendix D Equatorial Polar AlignmentPrecise Polar Alignment Locating the Celestial Pole6. Again note the extent of the star’s drift in declination Appendix D Equatorial Polar AlignmentPEC Train Menu Option PeriodicErrorCorrectionPECTraining Polar Alignment and RA Drive OnlyPEC Update Menu Option Appendix D Equatorial Polar AlignmentAPPENDIX E Latitude ChartLATITUDE CHART Appendix EMagnetic AmericaNorth DeclinationMAGNETIC DECLINATION GLOBAL MAP APPENDIX GAppendix G Magnetic Declination - Global Map Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Recycling InformationEU Countries only Correct Disposal of this ProductPage Page Page MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY Limited Warranty