INSTRUCTION MANUAL Jupiter 114 EQ-D: 4.
–2– WARNING NEVER USE A JUPITER 114 EQ-D 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 OR ITS VIEWFINDER AT OR NEAR THE SUN. DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THE TELESCOPE OR ITS VIEWFINDER AS IT IS MOVING. CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE ADULT SUPERVISION WHILE OBSERVING.
–3– TABLE OF CONTENTS Introducing the Jupiter 114 EQ-D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2. Standard Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Unpacking and Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. Balancing the Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.
–4– Key to Fig. 1 1. Tripod legs 24. 5 x 24 viewfinder 2. Equatorial mount 25. Telescope front dust cover 3. R.A. flexible cable control 26. Viewfinder bracket thumbscrews 4. Dec. flexible cable control 27. R.A. setting circle 5. Counterweights 28. Dec. setting circle 6. Counterweight shaft 29. Latitude dial 7. Counterweight locks 30. Azimuth lock 8. Safety washer/thumbscrew 31. Focus knobs 9. Latitude lock (reverse side, see inset) 32. Optional motor drive gear 10. Polar axis 33.
–5– 26 13 24 21 28 36 16 10 20 26 Reverse side 34 23 6 Fig. 1a: Model 114 EQ-D: Viewfinder assembly. 5 7 27 22 45 18 19 32 8 44 9 17 31 29 35 33 11 Reverse Side 38 30 Fig. 1c: Model 114 EQ-D: Equatorial mount. Fig. 1b: Model 114 EQ-D: Focuser. 24 19 12 14 25 15 37 1 42 2 3 40 4 41 43 Fig. 1d: Model 114 EQ-D: Tripod and tray. 39 Fig. 1e: Model 114 EQ-D: Optical tube assembly.
–6– INTRODUCTION The Jupiter 114 EQ-D is an easy-to-operate, high performance 4.5" (114mm) reflecting telescope, intended for astronomical observing. Equipped with a deluxe equatorial mount and aluminum tripod, the telescope’s motion is continuously adjustable for tracking celestial objects. Your telescope comes to you ready for adventure; it will be your companion in a universe of planets, galaxies, and stars.
–7– • Release the latitude lock (9) of the equatorial mount, and tilt the polar axis (10) of the telescope to roughly a 45° angle by turning the latitude adjustment knob (11). With the polar axis thus tilted, firmly re-tighten the latitude lock. • Remove the viewfinder bracket mounting nuts from the viewfinder bracket mounting bolts (16) that protrude from the optical tube (12), near the focuser (17).
–8– • Unlock the R.A. lock (22, Fig. 1) and the Dec. lock (23, Fig. 1) so that the telescope turns freely on both axes. Then point the main telescope at some well-defined land object (e.g. the top of a telephone pole) at least 200 yards distant, and re-lock the R.A and Dec. axes. Turn the flexible cable controls, (3, Fig. 1) and (4, Fig. 1), to center the object in the telescopic field.
–9– the celestial equator (which passes, for example, through the constellations Orion, Virgo and Aquarius) is specified as having 0°0'0" Declination. The Declination of the star Polaris, located very near the North Celestial Pole, is +89.2°. The celestial equivalent to Earth longitude is called “Right Ascension,” or “R.A.” and is measured in hours, minutes and seconds from an arbitrarily defined “zero” line of R.A. passing through the constellation Pegasus.
– 10 – USING THE TELESCOPE With the telescope assembled, balanced and polar aligned as described above, you are ready to begin observations. Decide on an easy-to-find object such as the Moon, if it is visible, or a bright star to become accustomed to the functions and operations of the telescope. For the best results during observations, follow the suggestions below: • To center an object in the main telescope, loosen the telescope’s R.A. lock (22, Fig. 1) and Dec. lock (23, Fig. 1).
– 11 – • Cloud belts across the surface of the planet Jupiter. • The 4 major satellites of Jupiter, visible in rotation about the planet, with the satellite positions changing each night. • Saturn and its famous ring system, as well as several satellites of Saturn, much fainter than the major satellites of Jupiter. • The Moon: A veritable treasury of craters, mountain ranges and fault lines. The best contrast for viewing the Moon is during its crescent phase.
– 12 – Assorted eyepieces are available both to increase and decrease the operating eyepiece power of the telescope. If the Jupiter 114 EQ-D is used on a regular basis, a selection of four to five eyepieces is recommended. For example, an eyepiece assortment of focal lengths 40mm, 25mm (Included as standard equipment), 12.5mm, 9mm, and 6mm yields a magnifying range of 22.5x, 36x, 72x, 101x, and 150x respectively. The included high quality Barlow Lens serves to double the power of each of these eyepieces.
– 13 – To inspect the view of the mirror collimation, look down the focuser drawtube with the eyepiece removed. The edge of the focuser drawtube (1, Fig. 7), will frame the reflections of the primary mirror with the 3 mirror clips (2, Fig. 7), the diagonal mirror (3, Fig. 7) , the spider vanes (4, Fig. 7), and your eye (5, Fig. 7). Properly aligned, all of these reflections will appear concentric (i.e., centered) as illustrated in Fig. 7.
– 14 – 1 1 2 3 2 3 4 2 5 Fig. 7: Correct Collimation. Fig. 8: Diagonal Mirror Misalignment. 1 2 3 4 Fig. 9: Primary Mirror Misalignment. • As you make adjustments to the primary mirror tilt screws (3, Fig. 6), you will notice that the outof-focus star disk image will move across the eyepiece field. Choose one of the 3 primary mirror tilt screws and slightly move the shadow to the center of the disk.
– 15 – SPECIFICATIONS Primary (main) mirror focal length: . . . . . .900mm Primary mirror diameter: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.5" (114mm) Focal ratio: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .f/8 Mounting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .German equatorial OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES Refer to the latest Meade General Catalog. American-Size Eyepieces (1.25" O.D.
ADVANCED PRODUCTS DIVISION Meade Instruments Corporation World’s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical Telescopes for the Serious Amateur 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450 FAX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www.meade.
