Meade Instruments Corporation
Instruction Manual
LXD55-Series Telescopes
Page
Easy Align U.S. patent 6,392,799 and other patents pend- ing
CONTENTS
2003 Meade Instruments Corporation
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TELESCOPE FEATURES
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Fig. 1c The LXD55-Series Tripod
Fig. 1d The LXD55-Series Mount
2$2%
Fig. 1e The LXD55-Series Computer Control Panel see 2$ above
8 x 50mm achromatic refractors models or 6 x 30mm Schmidt-Newtonian
Diagonal not shown, achromatic refractor models only Provides a more
LXD55-SeriesYour Personal Window to the Universe
2# 2$
Computer Control Panel see Fig. 1e
LXD55 TIPS
Join an Astronomy Club, Attend a Star Party
Features
AUTOSTAR FEATURES
Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button
Press MODE again to return to the previous menu
Note Pressing MODE repeatedly while in the “Select Item” level moves
Local Time and Local Sidereal Time LST Timer and Alarm Status
Autostar to the topmost screen “Select Item Object.”
Motor Assembly
How to Assemble Your Telescope
Telescope Assembly
Accessories
Attach viewfinder bracket Achromatic refractor and Schmidt-Cassegrain
Note Remember to turn off the LED when you are not using the reticle
Balancing the Telescope
Choosing an Eyepiece
Aligning the Viewfinder
Fig. 14 Viewfinder Alignment
Too Much Power?
Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually
LXD55 TIPS
Slew Speeds Autostar Models Only
Activate the Arrow Keys Autostar Models Only
x sidereal 0.25 arc-min/sec or 0.004/sec
Observe the Moon
Setting the Polar Home Position
Tracking Objects
Using Autostars GO TO Capabilities Autostar Models Only
Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature
Which One’s the Alignment Star?
Moving Through Autostar’s Menus Autostar Models Only
Initializing Autostar Autostar Models Only
Training the Drive Autostar Models Only
Easy Alignment Autostar Models Only
Go To Saturn Autostar Models Only
Using the Guided Tour Autostar Models Only
Example
Autostar Navigation Exercise
Autostar
To Calculate Sunset time
Look into the Future
Entering Data into Autostar
Navigating Autostar
LXD55 TIPS
Select Item Object
AUTOSTARS MENUS
Select Item Setup
Select Item Event
MENUS
Object Menu
Utilities Menu
Event Menu
Glossary Menu
Never use a Meade
Setup Menu
LXD55 TIPS Observing Considerations
Note Autostar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See
c. Custom Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates
Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including
Surf the Web
LXD55 TIPS
Version Shows the current version of the Autostar software
To Edit a Site
Adding Observing Sites
To Add a Site to the user-defined site list
USEFUL AUTOSTAR PROCEDURES
Using Autostar to Find Objects Not in the Libraries
To GO TO a user-entered object
Landmarks
Observing Satellites
To Add a landmark to the database
To Select a landmark from the database
To Check on the Available Memory
To perform a Landmark Survey
PHOTOGRAPHY
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A few tips on photography with the LXD55-Series telescopes
Fig. 26 #905 Variable Polarizer
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Fig. 24 Series 4000 Eyepieces Fig. 25 #140 2x Barlow Lens
Fig. 27 Series 4000 8 - 24mm Zoom Eyepiece
Fig. 30 #505 Cable Connector Kit
Fig. 28 Series 4000 Photo-Visual Fig. 29 Series 4000 Nebular Filters
Page
Alignment Collimation of the Schmidt-Newtonian Optical System
General Maintenance
MAINTENANCE
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Alignment Collimation of the Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System
Caution Do not force the three collimation
Fig. 33a Defocused star images. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned
Meade Customer Service
Inspecting the Optics
6 f/5 Model SN-6, SN-6EC Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
8 f/4 Model SN-8, SN-8EC Specifications
5 f/9.3 Model AR-5, AR-5EC Specifications
10 f/4 Model SN-10 Specifications
6 f/8 Model AR-6 Specifications
Autostar Specifications
8 f/10 Model SC-8 Specifications
Autostar Dimensions
Setting Circles
APPENDIX A CELESTIAL COORDINATES
One-Star Polar Alignment
Locating the Celestial Pole
One- and Two-Star Polar Alignment
Two-Star Polar Alignment
Procedure #1 To correct for attitude misalignment
Axis Alignment Procedure
To align your telescope to North using the polar alignment viewfinder
The Polar Alignment Viewfinder
Procedure #2 To correct for elevation misalignment
Tips
Star Charts
LXD55 TIPS
Method 2 Axis Alignment Using Autostar
City
APPENDIX C LATITUDE CHART
Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World
State/Prov./Country
Light No
APPENDIX D EC HANDBOX
Light Status
Modes of Operation
To move the telescope using the Electronic Controller
See pages 17 and 18 for more information
Slew Speeds
Note The tracking rate can be increased by up to 65%
Tracking Rates
Note The tracking rate can be decreased by up to 65%
Fig. 47 Indicator Light Key for Changing the Polar Mode
Changing the Polar Mode
Optional Autostar Computer Controller for LXD55 EC Users
Note The tracking rate can be increased by up to 65%
How to Attach the Optical Tube to the Mount
APPENDIX E MOUNTING THE MODEL SC-8 SCHMIDT- CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL TUBE
Objects in Space
APPENDIX F BASIC ASTRONOMY
Autostar Glossary
The Moon
Deep-Sky Objects
Planets
Fig. 53 The Pleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters
Topics
Further Study
LXD55 TIPS
Books
Page
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