LX200-ACF Features
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Instruction Manual 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" LX200®-ACF Advanced Coma-Free Telescopes with GPS and AutoStar® II Hand Controller 27 Hubble, Irvine, California 92618 (800) 626-3233 www.meade.com WARNING! Never use a Meade® LX200®-ACF Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. CONTENTS Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4 How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope .................... 4 Battery Safety Instructions Telescope Features ...................................................... 7 ® • Always purchase the correct size and AutoStar II Features ......................................................10 grade of battery most suitable for the Getting Started ..............................................................13 intended use. Parts Listing ..............................................................13 How to Assemble Your Telescope ............................13 • Always replace the whole set of batteries Choosing an Eyepiece ..............................................15 at one time, taking care not to mix old and Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder ....................16 new ones, or batteries of different types. Observing ......................................................................17 • Clean the battery contacts and also those Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually..........17 of the device prior to battery installation. Terrestrial Observing ................................................17 Observing Using AutoStar II’s Arrow Keys................17 • Ensure the batteries are installed correctly Focusing the Eyepiece with the Microfocuser ..........18 with regard to polarity (+ and -). Slew Speeds ............................................................18 • Remove batteries from equipment which Observe the Moon, Astronomical Observing ..........19 is not to be used for an extended period of To Track an Object Automatically ..............................19 time. Moving Through AutoStar II’s Menus ..................19 • Remove used batteries promptly. Automatic Alignment............................................19 Observe a Star Using Automatic Tracking ..........21 • Never attempt to recharge primary Go To Saturn ............................................................21 batteries as this may cause leakage, fire, Using the Guided Tour ..............................................21 or explosion. Basic AutoStar II Operation............................................23 • Never short-circuit batteries as this may AutoStar II Navigation Exercise ................................23 lead to high temperatures, leakage, or Navigating AutoStar II ..............................................24 explosion. AutoStar II Menus ........................................................25 Menu Tree ................................................................25 • Never heat batteries in order to revive Object Menu ............................................................26 them. Event Menu ..............................................................27 • Remember to switch off devices after use. Glossary Menu, Utilities Menu ..................................28 • Keep batteries out of the reach of children; Setup Menu ..............................................................29 small batteries may be ingested. Hot Button Menus ....................................................32 Advanced AutoStar II Features ......................................33 • Seek medical advice immediately if a Adding Observing Sites ............................................33 battery has been swallowed. Creating User Objects ..............................................34 Observing Satellites, Landmarks ..............................35 Identify ......................................................................36 16" LX200®-ACF Users: See APPENDIX F, Browse ......................................................................37 page 65, for features unique to the 16" Alternate Alt/Az Alignment Methods ........................38 model. Initialize AutoStar II (for Alternate Alignments) ........38 Easy (Two-Star) Alignment ......................................38 Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment ........................................39 14" LX200®-ACF Users: See APPENDIX G, To Set the Home Position Manually ....................39 page 69, for features unique to the 14" One-Star Alt/Az Alignment ........................................39 model. Periodic Error Correction ..........................................40 Photography ..................................................................41 Optional Accessories......................................................44 ® The name “Meade”, the Meade logo, LX200 and Autostar Maintenance, Collimation ..............................................47 are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Contacting Customer Support........................................49 Trademark Office and in principal countries throughout the Specifications ................................................................50 world. Specifications subject to change without notice. Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment ......................53 Patents: Appendix B: Latitude Chart ............................................58 US 7,092,156 Appendix C: How to Create Your Own Guided Tour ......59 US 7,079,317 Appendix D: Training the Drive ......................................63 US 6,304,376 Appendix E: The Moon Menu ........................................64 US 6,392,799 Appendix F: 16" LX200-ACF Features ..........................65 US 6,563,636 Appendix G: 14" LX200-ACF Features ..........................69 D 422,610 Patent Pending. Appendix H: De-rotator and Microfocuser Assembly......70 Appendix I: Smart Mount................................................71 © 2009 Meade Instruments Corporation. Appendix J: Previous Tripod Model Setup......................73 Basic Astronomy ............................................................74 QUICK-START GUIDE It is recommended that you attach the supplied tripod to the LX200-ACF for observing. Perform the telescope and 1 8 2 AutoStar II setup indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing. The setup is the same for the standard and giant field tripods. 3 NOTE: The LX200-ACF 8", 10", 12" and 14" models are equipped with Series 4000 26mm Super Plössl eyepiece 4 and a 1.25" Diagonal. The LX200 ACF 16" model is (1) Tripod Head equipped with Series 5000 26mm 5-element Super Plössl (2) Threaded Rod (3) Tension Knob eyepiece, 2" Diagonal and the Zero Image-Shift (4) Spreader Bar Microfocuser. (5) Leg Lock Knobs 7 The Field Tripod is supplied as a completely assembled (6) Extension Strut unit, except for the spreader bar (Fig. A, 4). For visual (7) Tension Hub 6 observations and short exposure astro-imaging, the drive (8) Attachment Nuts and Spring (not base of the telescope’s fork mount is attached directly to visible) the field tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an “Altazimuth” (“Altitude-Azimuth”, or “vertical-horizontal”) format. 5 CAUTION: “Firm feel” tightening is sufficient; over- tightening may strip the threads or damage the tripod Fig. A: Field Tripod with legs extended. and results in no additional strength. Fig. C: Remove 2 nuts and spring from threaded rod. Leave the washer on the rod. flat side Fig. B: Extend the tripod legs out. ᕡ How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope Assembly. After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand the tripod vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position (Fig. B). Fig. D: Slide spreader over threaded rod. Note The spreader bar (Fig. A, 4) has been removed for the washer on the rod. shipment. Unscrew the attachment nuts and spring from the spreader bar’s threaded rod (Fig. A, 2). Leave the washer on the bar. See Fig. C. Slide the spring into the hole on top of the tripod head (Fig. A, 1). Slide the spreader bar onto the threaded rod on top of the washer that is already on the threaded rod. Position the spreader bar with the flat side facing upward (Fig. D). Slide the threaded rod back through the tripod head from underneath and through the spring. Rethread the first attachment nut over the threaded rod as far down as it will go. Then thread the second nut until it is on top of the first Fig. E, 2: Thread the first nut nut. Push the rod up higher from underneath to make it as far down as it will go. Then Fig. E, 1: Insert spring into thread the second nut down easier to attach the nuts. See Fig. E, 1 and E, 2. hole on top of tripod head. onto the first nut. - 4 - Move the spreader bar so that the 3 arms of the spreader bar are lined up with the 3 tripod legs. Place the entire telescope onto the top of the tripod head, and thread the rod into the central threaded hole in the bottom of the drive base of the telescope. Tighten the T-handle tension knob (Fig. A, 3); firm tightening of the tension knob is sufficient