Instruction Manual LXD55-Series Telescopes Meade Instruments Corporation
CONTENTS WARNING! Never use a Meade® LXD55-Series 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.
TELESCOPE FEATURES J I Hg f e d C B 1$ 1# 1# 1) 1! 1@ Fig. 1a: The LXD55-Series Telescope Optical Assembly (Schmidt-Newtonian model with Autostar handbox shown; Electronic Controller model users, see Appendix D, page 55). d B 1^ 1% g f e 3% 3( 4) 3^ C H I Fig. 1b: Close up of Focuser and Viewfinder Assembly, Scmidt-Newtonian shown. (See Fig. 1a for overview.) For a close up of the refractor focuser assembly, see Fig. 10b, page 13. 4 3& 3* Fig.
1& 1* 3$ 3# 3@ 3! 3) 2( 2* 1( 2! 2@ 2# 2^ 2$2% 2^ 2& Fig. 1d: The LXD55-Series Mount. Fig. 1e: The LXD55-Series Computer Control Panel (see 2$ above).
LXD55-Series:Your Personal Window to the Universe The Meade LXD55-Series models are versatile, high-resolution telescopes. Supplied with either an Electronic Controller or an Autostar handbox, the LXD55-Series models offer unmatched mechanical and electronic performance. Caution: Using products other than standard Meade accessories may cause damage to the telescope’s internal electronics and may void the Meade warranty. The LXD55-Series telescopes reveal nature in an ever-expanding level of detail.
Caution When loosening the Dec. lock, be sure to support the optical tube (18, Fig. 1a). The weight of the tube could cause the tube to swing suddenly. 1% Viewfinder Bracket Screws (2): Tighten to a firm feel to hold viewfinder securely in place (see E). See page 12 for more information. 1^ Focus Lock Knob: Designed to prevent the focuser drawtube from moving when a heavy accessory, such as a camera, is attached to the focuser assembly.
2( Want to learn more about the polar alignment viewfinder? See the The Polar Alignment Viewfinder, page 50. 2( Polar Alignment Viewfinder: Allows you to precisely polar align the telescope. Useful when performing astrophotography. See page 50. 3) Polar Alignment Viewfinder Reticle and LED Knob: Rotate the knob to switch on or off the LED that illuminates the reticle within the polar alignment finder. Be sure to turn off the LED when finished with the polar viewfinder.
AUTOSTAR FEATURES Important Note: The model SN-6EC, model SN-8EC, and model AR5EC are equipped with an Electronic Controller handbox, rather than the Autostar Handbox. Several of the following procedures, such as Tracking Objects and Initializing Autostar (to name but a few), are relevant only to models equipped with the Autostar handbox and do not apply to the EC models. For more information about the EC handbox, see APPENDIX D: EC HANDBOX, page 55. Fig. 2: The Autostar Handbox.
Tip: If the "ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake, press MODE to return to the previous screen. Note: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or more and then released, Autostar emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER to Sync" may be used only after your telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. See page 30 for more details. MODE Key: Press to return to the previous menu level. The top menu level is “Select Item.
GETTING STARTED Leg Braces As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The assembly is shipped in separate boxes. Slot over Protrusion Telescope Assembly ■ Equatorial mount with polar alignment finder ■ Heavy duty, adjustable aluminum tripod with leg braces, three tripod leg lock knobs, and a captive mount locking knob ■ Complete optical tube assembly including primary mirror with dust cover and a rack-and-pinion focuser and eyepiece holders for both 1.
Unscrew the safety cap (23, Fig. 1d) from the shaft. Holding the counterweight (21, Fig. 1d) firmly in one hand, slip the counterweight to approximately the midpoint of the counterweight shaft (22, Fig. 1d). Tighten the counterweight lock knob to a firm feel. Replace the safety cap. Cradle Assembly Slot Secondary Lock Knob Cradle Lock Knob Fig. 7: Attach cradle to base mounting slot and tighten locking knobs. Cradle Rings Lock Knobs Fig.
Insert the eyepiece: Achromatic refractor and Schmidt-Cassegrain models (Fig. 10b): Lift to remove the dust cap from the eyepiece holder on the focuser assembly. Set the dust cap aside in a safe place and replace it when you have finished observing to protect the eyepiece assembly. Back off the eyepiece thumbscrews (1, Fig. 1b) and slide the diagonal into the holder and tighten the thumbscrews to a firm feel only. Insert the supplied SP 26mm eyepiece (3, Fig. 1b) into the the diagonal.
tending to drift down in either direction. Then re-tighten the counterweight lock knob, locking the counterweight in position. 3. Achromatic refractor and Schmidt-Newtonian models: Again, hold the optical tube so that it cannot accidentally swing freely. Lock the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d), and unlock the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d). The telescope now is able to move freely about the Dec. axis. Loosen the cradle ring lock knobs (13, Fig. 1a) so that the main tube slides easily back and forth in the cradle rings.
Note: Seeing conditions vary widely from night-tonight and site-to-site. Turbulence in the air, even on an apparently clear night, can distort images. If an image appears fuzzy and ill-defined, back off to a lower power eyepiece for a more well-resolved image (see Fig. 15a and 15b below). Note: For a list of magnification ratings of the eyepieces available for the LXD55-Series telescopes, see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 37.
supplied with your telescope. When the object is centered and focused in the eyepiece, switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practical for prevailing viewing conditions. For information about other eyepieces available for your telescope, see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 37. ■ Once centered, an object can be focused by turning one of the knobs of the focusing mechanism (8, Fig. 1b).
Speeds 1, 2, or 3: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a higher power eyepiece, such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece. Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enables centering an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard Super Plössl 26mm. Speeds 7 or 8: Best used for rough centering of an object in the viewfinder. Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another.
Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature Tip: You can change the telescope's slew rate while centering an object in the eyepiece. See SLEW SPEEDS, page 16 for more information. In this example, Autostar's Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then Autostar's tracking capability automatically keeps the star centered in your telescope's eyepiece. EC handbox users, see APPENDIX D, page 55, for information about tracking with the EC handbox. 1.
Moving Through Autostar’s Menus (Autostar Models Only) Autostar's menus are organized for quick and easy navigation. Tip: When multiple choices are available within a menu option, the current option is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow (>). ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Press ENTER (2, Fig. 2) to go deeper into Autostar menu levels. Press MODE (3, Fig. 2) to move back toward the top menu level. Press the Scroll keys (7, Fig.
a. 9. Autostar prompts you to enter the Country or State (listed alphabetically) of the observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of countries, states, and provinces. Press ENTER when the correct location displays. b. Autostar then prompts you to enter the nearest city (listed alphabetically) to the observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database of cities. Press ENTER when the correct city appears on screen.
15. "Drive Setup: For this...." begins to scroll across the display. This is another reminder to point your telescope at a terrestrial object. Loosen the R.A. and Dec. locks (17 and 33, Fig. 1d) and point the telescope at an object. Then re-tighten the locks. Press ENTER when the telescope is pointing at the desired terrestrial object. 16. "Center reference object" displays. Center your target object using the Arrow keys. When centered, press ENTER. 17.
5. Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays and the telescope slews until it finds Saturn. You may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. Autostar then automatically slews (moves) the telescope so that it tracks Saturn (or whatever other object you may have chosen). Saturn remains centered in the eyepiece. Using the Guided Tour (Autostar Models Only) Fig. 17: The planet Saturn is over 800 million miles from the Earth.
BASIC AUTOSTAR OPERATION SETUP MENU Easy alignment permits all telescope operations with only a quick setup. Important Note: The model SN-6EC, model SN-8EC, and model AR5EC are equipped with an Electronic Controller handbox, rather than the Autostar Handbox. The following sections (BASIC Select Item: Setup UTILITIES MENU Calculate eyepiece magnifications; set timer alerts; create your own landmark survey.
3. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise" is displayed. 4. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu. 5. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level. 6. Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar then displays the results of the calculation. 7. Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar levels.
Solar System Mercury Etc. Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc. Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Nebulae Planetary Neb. Etc. Star Named SAO Catalog Double Variable Etc.
MENUS Object Menu Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (Note: Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See GO TO SATURN, page 21, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see USING THE GUIDED TOUR, page 22. Autostar contains many libraries of viewable objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth.
Browse allows you to search the library for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, such as: Object Type, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc. Once you have set the parameters of the search, select "Start Search" and press ENTER. Autostar will display the results of the search. Event Menu The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events.
■ Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER. ■ Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer. When the timer runs out, four beeps sound and the timer is deactivated. Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose "Set" or "Start/Stop.
Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate locations and events. Time may be set to 24-hour mode (military time) by selecting the "blank" option (i.e., no option is displayed) which follows the "AM" and "PM" options. Daylight Saving is used to enable or disable Daylight Savings time. Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by different names in various areas of the world. Check local time to verify.
b. Tip: The Reverse L/R and U/D functions are useful if you are observing in the Southern hemisphere. Tip: If the "ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake (holding the ENTER key for more than 2 seconds), press MODE to return to the previous screen. ■ Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observing sessions. c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates. Reverse L/R: Reverses the functions of the Left and Right Arrow keys (i.e.
Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including: ■ Characters Free: Shows how much room is available in user-defined object memory. ■ Version: Shows the current version of the Autostar software. Reset completely resets Autostar. Most values entered into the menus revert to factory defaults. Autostar requires initialization after a Reset before proceeding with observations. See INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 19.
USEFUL AUTOSTAR PROCEDURES Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic operations of Autostar described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic knowledge of Autostar and understand how to scroll to a desired menu or menu option, and how to enter numbers and text. It also assumes that you have initialized and aligned your telescope.
11. Press MODE. "Site: Edit" displays. 12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to "Site: Select." The site you have just edited displays. Press ENTER to select the site or press MODE to exit. Using Autostar to Find Objects Not in the Libraries In this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial objects that do not appear in any of the Autostar libraries. You will enter the object's name and R.A. and Dec. coordinates (required information).
Observing Satellites In this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass. 1. Navigate to the "Object: Satellite" menu option and press ENTER. 2. Use the Scroll keys to scroll through the list of satellites. 3. Select a satellite from the list and press ENTER. 4. "Calculating...." and then "Tracking..." displays. If the satellite is going to make a pass, "Located" displays. 5.
Another setup method is to select an object from the Landmark database. See TO SELECT A LANDMARK FROM THE DATABASE below. Then manually move the telescope's optical tube and center this object in the telescope eyepiece. 2. Display the "Setup: Targets" menu option. Choose "Terrestrial" and press ENTER. "Setup: Targets" displays again. Choosing this option turns off tracking for astronomical objects which is not useful for the viewing of terrestrial objects such as those in the Landmark database.
PHOTOGRAPHY Photography through an LXD55 Schmidt-Newtonian telescope requires an LXD55-Series TAdapter (supplied) attached to the telescope (Fig. 22). Through-the-telescope photography is possible with any 35mm camera body with a removable lens. In this way, the telescope effectively becomes the lens of the camera. Unthread the focuser extension tube (Fig. 23) from the focuser drawtube to remove from the focuser assembly. The T-Adapter (2, Fig.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is available for the LXD55-Series telescope models. The premium quality of these accessories is well-suited to the quality of the instrument itself. Consult the Meade General Catalog for complete details on these and other accessories. Eyepiece/Apparent Field 6” f/5 Power/Actual Field 8” f/4 Power/Actual Field 10” f/4 Power/Actual Field Super Plössl Eyepieces (4-elements; 1.25” O.D.) 6.4mm/52° 9.7mm/52° 12.
Series 4000 8 - 24mm Zoom Eyepiece: The internal zoom optics of this eyepiece move on smooth, precisely machined surfaces which maintain optical collimation at all zoom settings. A scale graduated in 1mm units indicates the zoom focal length in operation. An excellent addition to any eyepiece set. #140 2x Barlow Lens: A 3-element design, doubles each eyepiece power while maintaining uncompromised image resolution, color correction, and contrast.
Dew Shield: In moist climates, water particles suspended in the atmosphere may condense on the front surface of the telescope's correcting plate. This dew formation may be inhibited to a significant extent by the addition of a dew shield, essentially an extension tube attaching to the front-cell of the telescope. #608 for Meade SchmidtCassegrain SC-8 model. #905 Variable Polarizer (1.
MAINTENANCE General Maintenance LXD55-Series telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your LXD55 will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing. Maintenance guidelines include: a. Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: A little dust on the front surface of the telescope’s correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens.
b c d Tip: A useful tool for making collimation easier is to make a hole in the plastic cap that comes with the eyepiece to protect it during shipping. Use a drill to make a 1/8" hole in the center of the cap and place it over the eyepiece holder for use during the collimation procedure. e Focuser drawtube Diagonal mirror Reflection of primary mirror Reflection of secondary mirror (darkened due to back lighting) f g b c d e f Primary mirror clips Reflection of observer's eye g Fig.
b c Fig. 32: Correct (1) and incorrect (2) collimation as viewed during a star test. Note: A small paper ring is attached to the primary mirror. This ring was attached at the factory for purposes of laser collimation. The ring will not diminish your telescope's imaging capabilities and does not need to be removed. 4. Perform an actual star test to confirm the accuracy of steps 1 through 3.
1 2 3 Fig. 33a: Defocused star images. Misaligned (1, 2), Aligned Fig. 33b: Collimation screws. Caution: Do not force the three collimation screws past their normal travel and do not loosen them more than two full turns in a counterclockwise direction or the secondary mirror may come loose from its support. You will find that the adjustments are very sensitive, usually requiring only one-half turn or less to produce the desired result. b.
Inspecting the Optics A Note About the “Flashlight Test: If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle of the light) may reveal what appears to be scratches, dark or bright spots, or just generally uneven coatings, giving the appearance of poor quality optics.
SPECIFICATIONS 6" f/5 Model SN-6, SN-6EC Specifications Optical design ..............................................Schmidt-Newtonian Clear aperture..............................................6" (152mm) Focal length ................................................762mm Focal ratio (photographic speed) ................f/5 Resolving power ..........................................0.74 arc secs Coatings ......................................................
10" f/4 Model SN-10 Specifications Optical design ..............................................Schmidt-Newtonian Clear aperture..............................................10" (254mm) Focal length ................................................1016mm Focal ratio (photographic speed) ................f/4 Resolving power ..........................................0.45 arc secs Coatings ......................................................
Alignment ....................................................German-type equatorial mount Slew Speeds................................................1x sidereal to 4.5°/sec in 9 increments Tripod ..........................................................Variable-height field tripod Accessories ................................................8 x 50mm finder 1.25" diagonal Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece 1.
APPENDIX A: CELESTIAL COORDINATES A celestial coordinate system was created that maps an imaginary sphere surrounding the Earth upon which all stars appear to be placed. This mapping system is similar to the system of latitude and longitude on Earth surface maps. In mapping the surface of the Earth, lines of longitude are drawn between the North and South Poles and lines of latitude are drawn in an East-West direction, parallel to the Earth’s equator.
star, and also of the object you wish to locate, in a star atlas. Point the object at the bright star. Then loosen the R.A. setting circle lock knob (32, Fig. 1d) and turn the R.A. setting circle to read the correct R.A. coordinate of the bright star; lock the R.A. setting circle lock knob onto the object. Next, loosen the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d) and turn the telescope in R.A. to read the correct R.A. coordinate of the object. Tighten the R.A. lock (33, Fig. 1d).
Reticle LED Knob Eyepiece APPENDIX B: ENHANCING POINTING PRECISION The Polar Alignment Viewfinder Typically Autostar's pointing capabilities are sufficient for most telescope observers, and the use of the polar alignment viewfinder is unnecessary for them. However, for those observers who need to meet the more demanding requirements of astrophotography, the polar alignment viewfinder allows the telescope mount to be more precisely aligned with true North.
2. Loosen the R.A. Lock (33, Fig. 1d) and the Dec. Lock (17, Fig. 1d). Point the tube so that it is above the tripod leg marked with a star. Retighten the Dec. Lock. Move the counterweight shaft and mount so that it is parallel to the horizon. This is position A. See Fig. 39. Retighten the R.A. Lock. 3. If using a Schmidt Newtonian model, rotate the optical tube (you will need to loosen the cradle ring lock knobs (13, Fig.
4. Observe the position of the object in the eyepiece. Assuming that the declination was properly set in the previous procedure, the object should have moved only horizontally (that is, side-to-side) from its original position. It may be out of the eyepiece altogether. 5. Using the adjustment mechanism on the bottom of the cradle (Fig. 41), move the reference object approximately half the distance towards the center of the eyepiece.
Method 2: Axis Alignment Using Autostar Perform this procedure during the daytime. You will need to have an unobstructed view of an easily sighted landmark, such as a light post. Use a low-power eyepiece, such as the supplied 26mm. This procedure assumes that you have some familiarity with Autostar's menu structure (you will need to locate the "Setup: Telescope" menu). If necessary, refer to AUTOSTAR'S MENUS, page 25. Note: For best result, perform this procedure after you have trained the drive.
APPENDIX C: LATITUDE CHART Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World To aid in the polar alignment procedure (see pages 17-21), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below. To determine the latitude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site. Then follow the procedure below: Northern hemisphere observers (N): If the site is over 70 miles (110 km) north of the listed city, add one degree for every 70 miles.
APPENDIX D: EC HANDBOX Important Note: The Electronic Controllers available for Meade's ETX and DS telescope series are not compatible and will not operate with the LXD55 EC series models. Do not plug in other telescope series' EC handboxes into the LXD55 computer control panel, nor plug the LXD55 EC series handboxes into any other telescope series computer control panel. Fast Medium Moderate Slow Fig. 43: Electronic Controller.
MODE Key: Press and hold MODE to place the Electronic Controller into the Mode function, i.e., to select operation for the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. See TRACKING RATES, page 57. OUT Key: Use this key to decrease the tracking rate. See TRACKING RATES, page 57. IN Key: Use this key to increase the tracking rate. See TRACKING RATES, page 57. Modes of Operation • When both the A and B screws are in place, the Northern hemisphere polar mode is selected when power is applied (i.e.
7. When the test is complete, light 1 remains on; lights 2, 3, and 4 turn off. 8. Use the four Arrow keys (1, Fig. 42) to slew the telescope to the desired object. To change the slew speed, press SPEED. 9. Fine-adjust the position of the object with the Electronic Controller Arrow keys so that it is centered in the viewfinder. The object is now ready to be viewed through the telescope’s eyepiece.
Note: The tracking rate can be increased by up to 65%. 4. To use a rate slower than sidereal, press OUT (6, Fig. 3) until light 4 blinks again (sidereal rate). Press OUT key and light 4 goes out, signifying a tracking rate 0.5% slower than sidereal. Note that when the Mode function is active, the tracking motor stops. To restart the tracking motor, press MODE again. Experiment with this function to get the right speed: Press OUT to set the tracking rate. Then press MODE and look through the eyepiece.
Slot Groove APPENDIX E: MOUNTING THE MODEL SC-8 SCHMIDTCASSEGRAIN OPTICAL TUBE How to Attach the Optical Tube to the Mount The LXD55 model SC-8 Schmidt-Cassegrain assembles and operates identically to all the other LXD55 models equipped with an Autostar handbox, with one exception: the optical tube is attached to the mount with a mounting bracket rather than the cradle ring assembly. The optical tube is shipped with the mounting bracket already attached.
APPENDIX F: BASIC ASTRONOMY In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller than your LXD55, turned it skyward instead of looking at the distant trees and mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, has forever changed the way mankind thinks about the universe.
Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the planets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. You can also consult Autostar for information about planets. Scroll to the "Object: Solar System" menu and scroll through the lists of planets. When a planet you are interested in displays, press ENTER.
LXD55 TIPS Further Study.... This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interested in pursuing further studies in astronomy, a few topics are suggested below that are worth reading up on. Try looking up some of these in the optional Autostar glossary. Also included below is a small sampling of books, magazines, and organizations that you might find helpful. Topics 1. How is a star born? How does a solar system form? 2.
MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“Meade”) to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of original purchase in the U.S.A. and Canada. Meade will repair or replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase.
