Instruction Manual 8", 10", 12" LX90®-ACF Advanced Coma-Free Telescopes and 8", 10", 12" LX90®-SC Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes AutoStar® — GPS WARNING! Never use a Meade® LX90® 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 BATTERY SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS: Quick-Start Guide ........................................................ 4 How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope.................... 4 • Always purchase the correct size and grade of battery most suitable for the intended use (8 Telescope Features .................................................... 7 x “C-type”[ANSI 14A, 14AC / IEC LR14]). Parts Listing ............................................................ 8 To Attach the Handbox Holder ................................ 9 • Always replace the whole set of batteries at AutoStar® Features ......................................................10 one time, taking care not to mix old and new Getting Started ............................................................13 ones, or batteries of different types. How to Assemble Your Telescope ..........................14 • Clean the battery contacts and also those of Choosing an Eyepiece............................................15 the device prior to battery installation. Aligning the Viewfinder ..........................................15 • Ensure the batteries are installed correctly with Observing ....................................................................16 regard to polarity (+ and -). Observing By Moving the Telescope Manually ......16 Terrestrial Observing ..............................................16 • Remove batteries from equipment which is not Observing Using AutoStar’s Arrow Keys ................16 to be used for an extended period of time. Slew Speeds ..........................................................17 • Remove used batteries promptly. Observe the Moon ..................................................17 To Track an Object Automatically............................18 • Never attempt to recharge primary batteries as Moving Through AutoStar’s Menus ..................18 this may cause leakage, fire, or explosion. Initializing AutoStar............................................18 • Never short-circuit batteries as this may lead Easy (Two-Star) Alignment................................19 to high temperatures, leakage, or explosion. Go To Saturn ..........................................................21 • Never heat batteries in order to revive them. Using the Guided Tour............................................21 Global Positioning System......................................21 • Remember to switch off devices after use. Basic AutoStar Operation ............................................22 • Keep batteries out of the reach of children; AutoStar Navigation Exercise ................................22 small batteries may be ingested. Entering Data into AutoStar....................................23 • Caution: If batteries or parts are swallowed, Navigating AutoStar................................................23 see a doctor immediately. Menus and Menu Options............................................24 Complete AutoStar Menu Structure........................24 Objects Menu..........................................................25 Event Menu ............................................................26 Glossary Menu ......................................................26 Utilities Menu ..........................................................26 Setup Menu ............................................................28 Advanced AutoStar Features ......................................31 If you are anxious to use your telescope for Adding Observing Sites..........................................31 the first time, read the QUICK-START GUIDE Finding Objects Not in the Database......................32 on pages 4, 5 and 6. Observing Satellites................................................33 Creating Your Own Guided Tour ............................34 Landmarks..............................................................37 Identify ....................................................................38 Alternate Alt/Az Alignments....................................38 Specifications subject to change without notice. Images Browse....................................................................39 shown in this instruction book may not be representative of Photography with the LX90 ..........................................40 images seen with this telescope. Optional Accessories ..................................................42 ® The name “Meade”, “AutoStar” and the Meade logo are Maintenance ................................................................44 trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Collimation ........................................................44 Office and in principal countries throughout the world. Inspecting the Optics ........................................46 “Deep Sky Imager,” “LX90”, “LPI”, “ACF”, “Advanced Coma- Gauging the Movement of the Telescope..........46 Free” and “Tonight’s Best” are trademarks of Meade Meade Customer Service ................................46 Instruments Corporation. Specifications ..............................................................47 Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment....................49 Patents: Appendix B: Helpful Charts..........................................54 US 6,304,376 Appendix C: Training the Drive ....................................55 US 6,392,799 Appendix D: Catadioptic Optical Systems ..................56 US 6,563,636 D 422,610 Warranty Information ......................................back page Patent Pending. © 2009 Meade Instruments Corporation. 4 QUICK-START GUIDE It is recommended that you attach the supplied tripod to the LX90 for observing. Perform the telescope and AutoStar 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. Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: • LX90 Telescope with fork mount system • AutoStar handbox and interface coil cord • Eyepiece holder and 1.25" diagonal prism • 8 x 50 Viewfinder • Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece • Variable height tripod and mounting base • Set of hex wrenches • Bubble Level / Compass Eyepiece Insert ᕡ How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope Assembly The Field Tripod is supplied as a completely assembled unit, except for the spreader bar (Pg. 5, Fig. A, 4). For visual observations and short exposure astro-imaging, the drive base of the telescope’s fork mount is attached directly to the field tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an “Altazimuth” (“Altitude-Azimuth,” or “vertical- horizontal”) format. Note: The field tripod also can be sued in conjunction with the optional equatorial wedge (see EQUATORIAL WEDGE, page 51) for long exposure astrophotography.The equatorial wedge permits alignment of the telesope’s Polar Axis with the Celestial Pole (or North Star). 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 (Pg. 5, Fig. B). 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 (Pg. 5, Fig. C). CAUTION: “Firm feel” tightening is sufficient; over-tightening may strip the threads or damage the tripod and results in no additional strength. The spreader bar (Pg. 5, Fig. A, 4) has been removed for shipment. Unscrew the attachment nuts and spring from the spreader bar's threaded rod (Pg. 5, Fig. A, 2). Leave the washer on the bar. See Fig. D on page 5. Slide the spring into the hole on top of the tripod head (Pg. 5, 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 (Pg. 5, Fig. E). 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 nut. Push the rod up higher from underneath to make it easier to attach the nuts. See Fig. F and G on page 5. 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 (Pg. 5, Fig. A, 3); firm tightening of the tension knob is sufficient to result in rigid positioning of the tripod legs. It is not necessary to use extreme force in tightening this knob. To vary the tripod height, loosen the 3 leg lock-lever and slide the 3 inner tripod leg sections out to the desired height making sure the tripod head is approximately level. Retighten the 3 lock-lever to a firm feel (Pg. 5, Fig. H). To collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope), rotate the spreader bar