Meade LX90GPS LX90: Your Personal Window to the Universe, MComputer Control Panel

CAUTION:

Using products other than standard Meade accessories may cause damage to the telescope’s internal electronics and may void the Meade warranty.

LX90: Your Personal Window to the Universe

The Meade LX90 is an extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes with features similar to those available only with larger and more specialized imaging systems. With pushbutton controls, automatic tracking of celestial objects and software downloading capability, the LX90 telescope may be all the telescope ever required by many terrestrial and astronomical observers.

1Eyepiece: Place the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece into the eyepiece holder or 90° diagonal prism (4, Fig. 1) and tighten in place with the thumbscrews. The eyepiece magnifies the image collected in the optical tube.

2Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew: Tightens the eyepiece in place. Tighten to a firm feel only.

3Eyepiece Holder: Holds the eyepiece in place.

4Diagonal Prism: provides a more comfortable right angle viewing position. Slide the diagonal prism directly into the eyepiece holder (3, Fig. 1).

EOptical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination through the eyepiece.

FDec Lock: Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the Dec lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the vertical axis. Turning the Dec lock clockwise (to a firm feel only) prevents the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the vertical motor drive for AutoStar operation.

NOTE: The Dec lock knob is a knurled knob located on the fork arm to the right of the focus knob (8, Fig. 1).

CAUTION: When loosening the Dec lock, be sure to support the optical tube (5, Fig. 1). The weight of the tube could cause the tube to swing through the fork arms suddenly.

GFork Arms: Hold the optical tube in place.

HFocus Knob: Moves the telescope’s primary mirror in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus. The LX90 telescope can be focused on objects from a distance of about 25 ft. to infinity. Rotate the focus knob counterclockwise to focus on distant objects, and clockwise to focus on nearby objects.

IR.A. Lock: Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope. Turning the R.A. lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope, enabling it to be freely rotated by hand about the horizontal axis. Turning the R.A. lock clockwise prevents the telescope from being rotated manually, and engages the horizontal motor drive for AutoStar operation.

JRight Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle: See APPENDIX A, page 50, for detailed information.

KDeclination (Dec) Setting Circle (on left fork arm): See APPENDIX A, page 50, for detailed information. Note the small, molded triangular pointer underneath the circle. Line up the desired Declination setting with this pointer.

1@ GPS Receiver: Receives information transmitted from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. See page 21 for more information.

MComputer Control Panel

A.Handbox (HBX) Port: Plug the AutoStar coil cord (10, Fig. 2) into this port.

B.LED: The red power indicator light illuminates when power is supplied to the AutoStar handbox and to the telescope’s motor drive.

C.ON/OFF Switch: Turns the Computer Control Panel and AutoStar ON or OFF.

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