Meade NGC-Series manual

Instruction Manual NGC-Series T elescopes NG-Series T elescopes[...]

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T ele scope an d Featu res.................................................. 4 T elescope and T ripod Features ...................................... 6 Getti ng Star ted ................................................................ 8 Parts Listing .............................................................. 8 How to Ass embl e Y ou r T e lesc [...]

4 TELESCOPE FEA TURES Fig. 1 : The NGC telescope. Inset: Alter nate tray style . 1^ 1! 1$ 1# 1@ 1) J I H G F E D C B 1& Y our telescope may look different from the one depicted above. Some differences include: • NG models do not include a control panel ( 4, Fig. 1 ) or a battery compartment ( 18, Fig. 2 ) • 90° diagonal mirror styles vary [...]

5 1* 1( 2) 2! 2@ 2# 2$ 2% H I 1) J E Fig. 2: T op view of the NGC base. Fig. 3 : Detailed view of the NGC computer control panel. Fig. 4 : Detailed view of the f ocuser assembly and the vie wfinder . Inset: Alter nate style focuser and vie wfinder . A B C D E F G 2^ 2& 2* G[...]

6 T elescope and T ripod Features b Dust Cap (not shown) : Pull to remove from the dew shield ( 17, Fig. 1 ). NO TE: The dust cap should be replaced after each obser ving session and the power turned off (NGC models only) to the telescope. V er ify that any dew that might ha ve collected during the obser ving session has ev aporat- ed prior to repl[...]

7 1) Focus Knobs : Use to move the telescope’s focuser assembly to obtain precise image focus. Rotate the focus knobs clockwise to focus on distant objects, and counterclockwise to focus on nearby objects. 1! T ripod Leg Nuts and Bolts (3): Attach the tripod legs ( 15, Fig. 1 ) to the tripod head ( 16, Fig. 1 ) using these three nuts and bolts. S[...]

8 P ar ts Listing • Complete 60mm diameter optical tube assembly with dew shield, dust cap, 5 x 24 viewfinder , and rack-and-pinion focuser; electronic control panel (NGC models only). • Continuously adjustable aluminum tripod and leg braces. • Accessories: Eyepieces and 90° diagonal mirror Accessory tray 3 screws (3/8" long) with wing [...]

9 6. Insert the diagonal mirror and ey epiece: Insert the diagonal mirror ( 8, Fig. 1 ) into the focuser drawtube ( 9, Fig. 1 ) and a low-power eyepiece ( e.g., 25mm or 26mm eyepiece) into the diagonal mirror . T ighten the eyepiece and diagonal mir- ror thumbscrews ( 25 and 26, Fig. 4 ) to a firm feel. Note: Some models are supplied with one of tw[...]

10 Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view , bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions. T o find an object with a telescope, always start with a low power eyepiece ( e.g., 25mm or 26mm eyepiece). When the object is locat- ed and centered in the eyepiece, you may wish to switch to a higher power eyepiece to e[...]

11 Initializing the Control P anel (NGC Models Only) 1. Make sure that you have installed a 9v battery in the battery compartment. 2. Press ON/OFF to turn the power on. The control panel display lights up and a copyright message displays briefly . 3. A message displays that warns you not to use the telescope to look at the Sun. At the end of this m[...]

12 7. "Enter T ime: 08:00:00AM" displays. The leftmost "0" is highlighted. Press UP/DOWN until "1" displays. Press ENTER. 8. "8" is highlighted. Press UP/DOWN until "1" displays. Press ENTER. 9. "0" is highlighted. Press UP/DOWN until "3" displays. Press ENTER. 10. Keep pressing [...]

13 Go T o Saturn (NGC Models Onl y) After performing the Easy Alignment procedure, the telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. IMPORT ANT NO TE : Once aligned, do not move the telescope's tripod and base from the le vel position or alignment will be lost. This exercise demonstrates how to select an object for viewing from the control pane[...]

14 1. After observing Saturn, press MODE twice so that "Select Item: Object" displays again. 2. Press UP/DOWN until "Select Item: Guided T our" displays. 3. Press ENTER. "Guided T our: T onight’s Best" displays. Press ENTER. NO TE: If you wish to tr y out other Guided T ours, press UP/DO WN to scroll through other to[...]

How to mo ve through menu options (NGC Models Onl y): It is helpful to understand that menu selections are set in a loop . This means that press- ing the DOWN button scrolls down through all the available options within a given cat- egory , then returns to the first option. Pressing the UP key scroll up through the options in the opposite order . N[...]

16 Object Menu Almost all observing is performed using the Object menu category . ( NO TE: Exceptions include Guided T our and Landmark Sur ve y . ) See GO T O SA TURN , page 13, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see USING THE GUIDED TOUR , page 13. The Object Menu includes: Solar System is a list of the eight planets (Earth i[...]

17 Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun rises or sets on the current date and location. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the "Setup: Date" menu. Moonrise and Moonset calculates the time that the Moon rises or sets on the current date and location. Find rise and set times for other dates by[...]

Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for your telescope. • Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the field of view is calculated. • Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the magnification is calculated. • Suggest: Sugges[...]

19 OPTIONAL A CCESSORIES A wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is available for the NG-Series and NGC-series telescopes. Consult the Meade General Catalog for complete details of these and other accessories. Eyepieces (1.25" barrel diameter): For higher or lower magnifications with the tele- scopes that accommodate 1.25" eye[...]

20 General Maintenance Y our telescope is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime of reward- ing applications. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your tele- scope will rarely require factory servicing or maintenance. Maintenance guidelines include: 1. Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics. A little dust o[...]

21 • If inside a warm house or building, move outside. Interior air conditions may distort terrestrial or celestial images, making it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a sharp focus. For optimal viewing, use the telescope outside in the open air instead of observing through an open or closed window or screen. • If viewing a land object on[...]

22 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 sys- tem 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[...]

23 6. "Right Asc.: 00.00.0" displays. Use UP/DOWN and ENTER to enter the digits for the Right Ascension coordinate of your object. 7. "Declination: +00°.00'" displays. Use UP/DOWN and ENTER to enter the digits for the Declination coordinate of your object. If necessary , use UP/DOWN to change "+" to "- .&quo[...]

Introduction Some NGC/NG models are now shipped with a third style tray . The third style assem- bles with a round accessory tray . Assembly • Use the provided 3 short screws, 3 washers and 3 bolts to attach the round accessory tray to the tripod. Y ou will need a Phillips-head screwdriver to perform this assembly . • Line up one of the leg bra[...]

25 In the early 17th century , Italian scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope smaller than your NG or NGC, turned it to look towards the sky instead of distant trees and moun- tains. What he saw , and what he realized about what he saw , forever changed the way mankind thought of the universe. Imagine what it must have been like being the first[...]

26 Fig. 21: Satur n has the most extensiv e ring structure in our Solar System. Fig. 22: The Pleiades is one of the most beautiful open clusters. Fig. 20: Jupiter and its four largest moons. The moons can be obser ved in a different position e very night. and T elescope or Astronomy . Listed below are the best planets for viewing through your teles[...]

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14-0060-00 6/04B MEADE LIMITED W ARRANTY 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 [...]