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