Meade LX200GPS manual

Instruction Manual 8", 10", 12" and 16" LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain T elescopes 7" LX200GPS Maksuto v-Cassegrain T elescope with A utostar II Hand Contr oller Meade Instruments Corporation[...]

In the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the Meade 8", 10" and 12" LX200GPS models, light enters from the right, passes through a thin lens with 2-sided aspheric correction (“correcting plate”), proceeds to a spherical primary mirror , and then to a convex secondary mirror . The convex secondary mirror multiplies the ef fective focal [...]

Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4 T elescope Features ...................................................... 6 Autostar II Features ........................................................ 9 Getting Started ..............................................................12 Parts Listing ...................[...]

4 QUICK-ST ART GUIDE It is recommended that you attach the supplied tripod to the LX200GPS for observing. Perform the telescope and Autostar II setup indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the parts and operation before moving the tele- scope outside into the dark for observing. The setup is the same for the standard field tripod and[...]

5 1 1. T ighten, to a firm feel only , the R.A. and Dec. locks. Remove the dust cover from the end of the telescope tube. Place the Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece ( F ) into the diagonal prism ( G ) and tighten the attachment thumbscrew ( E ) to a firm feel only . Sight along the side of the telescope’s main tube to locate an object. Rotate the mirr[...]

TELESCOPE FEA TURES Autostar II Hand Controller . See page 9. (not shown, on left fork arm) 6 Fig. 1 : The LX200GPS T elescope; Computer Control P anel (inset); A utostar II Handbox (inset).         B c d f e g h i j 1) 1! 1@ 1# 1$ 1% 1^ 1& 1* 1( 2) 2! 2@ 2$ 2# (not shown) 2%[...]

LX200GPS: YOUR PERSONAL WINDOW TO THE UNIVERSE The Meade LX200GPS models are extremely versatile, high-resolution telescopes. With pushbutton controls, precision GPS alignment, zero image-shift microfocusing, true-level and North electronic sensors, automatic tracking of celestial objects, peri- odic error correction for both axes, and a library of[...]

8 B. 12vDC Po wer Connector : Provides a connection so that the telescope assembly may be powered from a standard 1 15v AC home outlet using the optional #547 Power Adapter with Cable o r the optional 12v DC #607 Cigarette Lighter Adapter . See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES , page 43. C. Focus Port : Plug the microfocuser into this port. Control the microfo[...]

9 Fig. 2: The A utostar II Handbox. T our the Cosmos with J ust the Push of a Button Control of the LX200GPS telescope models is through the operation of the standard Autostar II system. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar II’s buttons. Because the Autostar II system uses flash (rewritable) me[...]

10 The Autostar II system provides control of virtually every telescope function. The Autostar II handbox has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with red LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for easy view- ing in the dark. The backlit display , key arrangement, and sequential menu structure make Au[...]

11 5 SS : Press to display the Solar System library . 6 ST AR: Press to display the Star library . 7 RET (Reticle): Press to display the Reticle Control menu. 8 IC : Press to display the Index Catalog library . 9 NGC (New General Catalog): Press to display the NGC catalog library . 0 LIGHT : Press to turn on and off the red utility light on the top[...]

12 P ar ts Listing Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: ■ LX200GPS T elescope with fork mount system ■ Autostar II handbox and interface coil cord; handbox holder ■ Microfocuser assembly ■ 8 x 50mm viewfinder assembly ■ Eyepi[...]

13 Notes Concerning the T ripod: If the tripod does not seem to extend or collapse easily , do not force the tripod legs in or out. By f ollowing the instructions abov e, the tripod will func- tion properly , but if you are unclear on the proper procedure , f orcing the tri- pod into an incorrect position ma y damage the extension strut system. Do [...]

14 5. Attach Diagonal (or accessories) 1.25" Diagonal Prism Users: If using the 1.25" diagonal prism ( G, Fig. 6 ), slide the 1.25" adapter ( D , Fig. 6 ) into the microfocuser . Line up the thumbscrew into the groove in the microfocuser ( Fig. 7a and 7b ). T ighten the microfocuser thumbscrews ( I, Fig. 6 ) to a firm feel only . Sli[...]

15 Fig. 11: Vie wfinder Assembly . Collimation Screws Mounting Slot Viewfinder Eyepiece T rack Fig. 12: Vie wfinder collimation screws and ey epiece. Fig. 13a & 13b: Jupiter; examples of the right amount of magnification and too much magnification. Thumb- screws The power , or magnification of a telescope is determined by the focal length of th[...]

16 OBSERVING Observing by Mo ving the T elescope Manually If you wish to observe a distant land object, such as a mountain top or a bird, you can observe by merely pointing the telescope and looking through the eyepiece. 1. Loosen the telescope’s R.A. lock ( 12, Fig. 1 ) and Dec. lock ( 17, Fig. 1 ). 2. Move your telescope to observe distant stre[...]

17 8. Autostar II then requests the current date and time. Press ENTER repeatedly to bypass these menus. Keep pressing until "Setup: Align" displays. 9. The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the Arrow keys ( 5, Fig. 2 ) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. 10. Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then a N[...]

18 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: Enable centering of 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 th[...]

19 The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly , fol- lowed by a short beep. Then Autostar II takes a few moments to start up the sys- tem. 4. A message displays that warns not to look at the Sun. At the end of this message, press the key prompted by Autostar II to signify that the message has been read and understo[...]

20 the field of view in the eyepiece. If it is not, look through the viewfinder—in most cases, the star will be visible. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope (you can change speed at which the telescope moves: see SLEW SPEEDS , page 17 for more information) until the star is visible and centered in the eye- piece. The alignment star should be[...]

Note: If you wish to try out other Guided T ours, press the Scroll Down k ey to scroll through other tour choices. When the tour y ou wish to select dis- pla ys, press ENTER. 4. “T onight’s Best: Searching...” displays. After calculating, “T onight’s Best: Jupiter” displays. Note : Diff erent objects may be displa yed on a tour list on [...]

It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop ( Fig. 16 ). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key ( 7, Fig. 2 ) cycles down through all the available options within a given category , then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key ( 7, Fig. 2 ) cycles up through the options in the opposite order . Note that this ca[...]

23 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 II calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and loca- tion. Autostar II then displays the results of the calculation. 7. Press MOD[...]

24 Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset Moon Phases Next Full Moon Next Ne w Moon Next 1st Qtr Next 3rd Qtr Meteor Showers Quadrantids Lyrids Etc. Solar Eclipses Lunar Eclipses Min. of Algol Autumn Equino x V ernal Equinox Winter Solstice Summer Solstice T our Objects A... Accretion Disk Etc. B... C... Etc. Timer Set Star t & Stop Alarm Set On &[...]

25 Object Menu Almost all observing with Autostar II is performed using the Object menu category . ( Note: Exceptions include Guided T our and Landmark Sur v ey . ) See GO TO SA TURN , page 20, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see USING THE GUIDED T OUR , page 20. Autostar II contains many libraries of viewable objects, such [...]

26 Identify: An exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar II Arrow keys to move about in the sky . Then follow this procedure: Important Note: Only use the Arrow k eys to mov e the telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not loosen the te[...]

27 Glossary Menu The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and Autostar II functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar II. A hyper te xt word is any word in [ brackets ], usually found when using the Autostar II Help funct[...]

28 P ark Scope: Designed for a telescope that is not moved between observing sessions. Align the telescope one time, then use this function to park the telescope. The next time it is powered up, pressing ENTER causes the telescope to move to its predeter- mined Park position. Once parked, the screen prompts to turn off power . Important Note: When [...]

29 ■ Mount Lower Limit: Allows you enter a percentage that sets a lower limit as to how far the optical tube can swing downward during a programmed slew . (Note that it does not prevent you from performing a manual slew past this limit.) This is useful when you have a large optical tube (12" model) or have a dewshield attached to the telesco[...]

30 you wish to select displays. Use this option when you move to a different geo- graphic location. ■ Add : Allows you to add new observing sites to the database (up to six sites may be stored). Scroll through the list of Countries/States. Press ENTER when the site you wish to add displays. Then choose the desired city in the same manner . Howeve[...]

31 "Hot Button" Menus T wo menus, six object libraries and two functions can be accessed directly using the Number keys (commonly referred to as "hot buttons"). The two functions, the Speed mode and the Utility light are described earlier in the manual. Focus Control Men u: Press Number key "4" to select this menu dire[...]

32 ADV ANCED AUTOST AR II FEA TURES Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic oper- ations of Autostar II described earlier in this manual. The following examples assume that you have a basic knowledge of Autostar II and understand how to scroll to a desired menu or menu option, and how to enter numbers and[...]

33 1 1. Press MODE. "Site: Edit" displays. 12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to "Site: Select." The site you have just edited dis- plays. Press ENTER to select the site. Creating User Objects In this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial objects that do not appear in any of the Autostar II libraries. Y ou will enter [...]

34 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 "Trac[...]

35 those in the Landmark database. Be sure to change this option back to "Astronomical" when you wish to view celestial objects again. 3. Press MODE once. "Select Item: Setup" displays. 4. Press the Scroll Down key once and "Select Item: Object" displays. Press ENTER. "Object: Solar System" displays. 5. Press[...]

36 In this procedure, you will center an object you wish to have identified by Autostar II in the telescope eyepiece and use the "Identify" menu to find out information about the object or the nearest object to it in the Autostar II database. 1. Center the object you wish to have identified in the telescope's eyepiece. 2. Navigate to[...]

37 Alternate Alt/Az Alignments If you would rather set up your telescope without using automatic alignment, Autostar II offers alternative alignment methods for both alt/az and equatorial mounting. During the One-Star and T wo-Star alt/az alignment procedures, you will (unlike the Automatic and Easy alignment procedures) manually place the telescop[...]

38 2. Select Alignment . Press the Scroll keys until "Align: T wo Star" displays. Press ENTER. 3. Set Home P osition . Place the telescope in the home position. T o Set the Home Position Manually: a. See Figs. 19 and 20, page 37. Loosen the telescope ’ s Dec. lock ( 17, Fig. 1 ). Set the optical tube to 0 ° on the Dec. setting circle ([...]

39 P eriodic Error Correction If you wish to perform high-precision astrophotography , you may wish to "train" your telescope in order to keep objects that you are imaging dead center in the telescope's mirror during the photographic exposure. Periodic error correction (PEC) helps to remove the slight perturbations from center that o[...]

40 Y ou may perform through-the-telescope photography with any 35mm camera body with a removable lens. Y ou may connect a camera to a #62 T -Adapter which is then con- nected to the microfocuser assembly . See Fig. 21 . Using this method, the telescope effectively becomes the lens of the camera. The #62 T -Adapter ( 1, Fig. 21 ) connects to the mic[...]

41 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is available for the LX200GPS telescope models. The premium quality of these accessories is well-suited to the qual- ity of the instrument itself. Consult the Meade General Catalog for complete details on these and other accessories. Meade Series 4000 Eyepieces: Fig. 23: Se[...]

42 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[...]

43 Fig. 28: Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece. Fig. 29: #62 T -Adapter . Piggybac k Brackets: Piggyback photography is one of the most popular and easiest ways to get started in astrophotography . Attach your 35mm camera, with its own 35mm-to-250mm lens, atop your LX200GPS in equatorial mode, and guiding the cam- era through the main telescope, wide-fie[...]

44 MAINTENANCE LX200GPS telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your LX200GPS will rarely , if ever , require factory servicing. Maintenance guidelines include: a. Avoid cleaning the telescope ’ s optics: A little dust on the fron[...]

With the star or hot spot centered, de-focus the image. Y ou will notice that the out of focus star image looks like a ring of light surrounding a dark central spot; the dark cen- tral spot is in fact the shadow of the secondary mirror . T urn the focus knob until the ring of light fills about 10% of the eyepiece field-diameter . If the dark centra[...]

46 i. As a final check of alignment, examine the star image in focus with the higher power eyepiece as suggested (j), under good viewing conditions. The star point should appear as a small central dot (commonly referred to as an “ Airy disc ” ) with a diffraction ring surrounding it. T o give a final precision collimation, make extremely slight[...]

47 7" f/15 LX200GPS Specifications Optical design ..............................................Maksutov-Cassegrain Clear aperture ..............................................178mm (7") Focal length ................................................2670mm Focal ratio (photographic speed) ................f/15 Resolving power ..............[...]

48 8" f/10 LX200GPS Specifications Optical design ..............................................Schmidt-Cassegrain Clear aperture ..............................................203mm (8") Focal length ................................................2000mm Focal ratio (photographic speed) ................f/10 Resolving power ...............[...]

49 Pointing Precision ......................................2 arc-minutes in GO TO mode Slew Speeds ................................................1x sidereal to 8 ° /sec in 9 increments Power ..........................................................8 C-cell (user-supplied) batteries or optional 12v power supply T ripod .........................[...]

50 Equatorial Alignment In equatorial (or "polar") Alignment, the telescope is oriented so that the horizontal and vertical axes of the telescope are lined up with the celestial coordinate system. In order to equatorial align your telescope, it is essential to have an understanding of how and where to locate celestial objects as they move[...]

51 Using setting circles requires a developed technique. When using the circles for the first time, try hopping from one bright star (the calibration star) to another bright star of known coordinates. Practice moving the telescope from one easy-to-find object to another . In this way , the precision required for accurate object location becomes evi[...]

52 Lining Up with the Celestial P ole Objects in the sky appear to revolve around the celestial pole. (Actually , celestial objects are essentially “ fixed. ” Their apparent motion is caused by the Earth ’ s rota- tion). During any 24 hour period, stars make one complete revolution about the pole, making concentric circles with the pole at th[...]

53 ting circle and slightly loosen the two bolts located under the knob. Now turn the cir- cle unit until it reads 89.2 ° , the Declination of Polaris. Then tighten down the two bolts and replace the knurled knob. Should you wish to use the manual setting circles, the R.A. setting circle ( Fig. 36 ) must be calibrated manually on the Right Ascensi[...]

54 A utostar II Polar Alignment Autostar II provides three different (manual) methods for polar alignment: Easy , One- Star and T wo-Star . Easy P olar Alignment T wo alignment stars are chosen by Autostar II based on the date, time, and location. First, choose "Polar" from the "Setup: T elescope: Mount" menu. The rest of the pr[...]

55 APPENDIX B: LA TITUDE CHART Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the W orld T o aid in the polar alignment procedure (see page 52), latitudes of major cities around the world are listed below . T o 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 he[...]

56 APPENDIX C: CREA TE YOUR OWN GUIDED TOUR Creating your own Guided T our can be an extremely useful tool. Y ou can preprogram a script of objects you wish to view and study on any given night. Y ou can also create a viewing script for students or for a friend. More commands will be added from time-to-time to the list below . Periodically visit Me[...]

57 TITLE TEXT USER NGC IC SAO MESSIER CALDWELL PLANET MOON SA TELLITE ASTEROID COMET LUNAR ECLIPSE METEOR SHOWER DEEP SKY CONSTELLA TION ST AR LANDMARK DEFINE PICK ONE/PICK END AUTO SLEW ON/OFF #END Description String: Description of an object. Must be surrounded by quotation marks. If the description is longer than one line, each line must end wit[...]

58 PLANET "name" Enter PLANET and then the name of the desired planet in quotes. Autostar II provides the user with a description of the selected planet from its database. F or example: PLANET "Pluto" MOON This command accesses information about the Moon from the Autostar II database. SA TELLITE "name" Enter SA TELLITE[...]

59 T rain the telescope motors using Autostar II. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 41 depicts the complete Drive T raining procedure. Note: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this ex er- cise once e very 3 to 6 months to maintain the highes[...]

60 APPENDIX E: THE MOON MENU The Moon option of the Object menu allows you to observe the moon in a way never possible before. Y ou will be able locate many specific features of the lunar surface, including hundreds of craters, mare, valleys, and mountains. One special feature allows you to view all six Apollo landing sites. While you won't be[...]

61 APPENDIX F: 16" LX200GPS FEA TURES Figure 43: 16" LX200GPS Computer Control Panel. 16" LX200GPS Unique Features The 16" LX200GPS contains, for the most part, the same features (covered earlier in this manual) as all other LX200GPS telescope models. The following features are unique to the 16" model. Control Panel Feature[...]

62 ing of the telescope in the GO TO mode . Do not attempt to turn the focus knob of the optical tube ( 6, Fig. 1 ) until you ha ve read the follo wing note. Caution: Ne xt to the base of the focus assemb ly is a red slot-head bolt, used only f or safety reasons in shipment. Remov e this bolt bef ore attempt- ing to turn the focus knob . In its pla[...]

63 T o collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope) for storage, follow these steps: a. Loosen the tension knob and rotate the spreader bar 60 ° from its assembled posi- tion, so that one spreader bar arm is located between each adjacent pair of tripod legs. b. Move the spreader bar to the top of the threaded rod. T ighten the tension knob, [...]

64 c. 2 short cords (8 ” long) with DB-9 connectors are supplied to provide power to the Dec. system, the GPS, and the level sensor . Plug into the two DB-9 connectors located at the top of the sides of the fork and the Dec. casting ( Fig. 53 ). d. Connect the Autostar II handbox to the HBX connector ( F , Fig. 43 ) on the control panel. e. Conne[...]

65 APPENDIX G: DE-ROT A TER AND MICROFOCUSER ASSEMBL Y When using a de-rotater , it is important to attach the microfocuser so that it is backed off slightly from the de-rotater . If the microfocuser is flush against the de-rotater , the assembly will not work properly . This is true also with other accessories that may attach up flush against the [...]

66 In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller than your LX200GPS , 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. Imagine what it must have been like being the first huma[...]

67 Planets Planets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. T o locate the plan- ets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy magazine, such as Sky and T elescope or Astronomy . Y ou can also consult Autostar II for information about planets. Scroll to the "Object: Solar System" menu and scroll through the lis[...]

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14-7200-00 7/02 AD V ANCED PRODUCTS DIVISION Meade Instruments Corporation World’ s Leading Manufacturer of Astronomical T elescopes for the Serious Amateur 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California 92618 ■ (949) 451-1450 F AX: (949) 451-1460 ■ www .meade.com © 2002 MEADE LIMITED W ARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope acces[...]