Related Manuals for Meade DSX Series
Summary of Contents for Meade DSX Series
- Page 1 Instruction Manual DSX Series Altazimuth Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes Meade Instruments Corporation...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
QUICK-START GUIDE page 4. ® The name “Meade,” the Meade logo and “Autostar” are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries through- out the world. All rights reserved. -
Page 4: Quick-Start Guide
QUICK-START GUIDE Open the tripod: Remove the tripod from the giftbox and stand vertically. Gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. Turn the center tripod lock knob to secure and stabilize the tripod. Tighten to a firm feel. Caution: Make sure you loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing the tripod at the end of your viewing session. - Page 5 If you wish to attach the viewfinder, see page 11. If you wish to initialize Autostar, see page 17. If you wish to align the telescope, go to page 18. If you wish to use Autostar to automatically view objects, go to page 20 for some examples.
- Page 6 Setting Circle; (B) Altitude Lock Handbox port; (B) Power indicator light, (C) switch; (D) Auxiliary port. (not visible) (on bottom of base, not visible) Fig. 1a: DSX Series Telescope. (on opposite side) Fig. 1d (Inset): Back view of optical tube.
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Page 7: Telescope Features
C. ON Switch: Turns the Computer Control Panel and Autostar ON or OFF. Note: Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used for a long period of time. D. Auxiliary (AUX) Port: Provides connection for current and future Meade accessories. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES... - Page 8 Azimuth Setting Circle: Displays Azimuth (horizontal) coordinates. Tripod Legs: Spread the legs out as far as they will open for a secure viewing platform. Inner Support Struts (3): Make the tripod more secure and stable. Tripod Lock Knob: Tighten to a firm feel to secure tripod legs. Caution: Loosen the tripod lock knob before collapsing tripod at the end of a viewing session.
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Page 9: Autostar Features
Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year. • Download the latest satellite data and software revisions directly from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and share software with other Autostar enthusiasts. (Requires optional #505 AstroFinder™... - Page 10 A fun way to learn more about astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer to find out if there’s a club in your area. At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy enthusiasts with whom you will be able to share your discoveries.
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Page 11: Getting Started
How to Assemble Your Telescope The telescope attaches directly to the tripod. The telescope in this way is mounted in an “Altazimuth” (“Altitude-Azimuth,” or “vertical-horizontal”) format. The telescope in this configuration moves along the vertical and horizontal axes, corresponding respectively to the Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal) axes in the astronomical observing mode. -
Page 12: The Viewfinder
Improperly installed batteries Fig. 9: Insert eight AA-size void your Meade warranty. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used batteries inside the battery for a long period of time. -
Page 13: Aligning The Viewfinder
If you have not already done so, place a low-power (e.g., 26mm) eyepiece in the eyepiece B. Aligned holder of the main telescope (2, Fig. 1d) and point the telescope at an easy-to-find land object (e.g., the top of a telephone pole). Turn the focuser knob (1, Fig. 1d) so that the Fig. - Page 14 Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and eye relief during long observing sessions. To find an object with a telescope, always start with a lower power eyepiece such as a 26mm. When the object is located and centered in the eyepiece, you may wish to switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as much as practical for prevailing seeing conditions.
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Page 15: Observing
20). Terrestrial Observing DSX Series Telescopes are excellent high-resolution, terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing ter- restrial objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat waves often cause degradation of image quality. Lower power eyepieces, such as a 26mm eyepiece, magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces. -
Page 16: Slew Speeds
As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it automatically "tracks" the stars and other objects in the night sky. -
Page 17: Alt/Az Home Position
North Tighten the Altitude lock (B, Fig. 1b) to a firm feel only. Loosen the tripod base lock knob (16, Fig. 1a) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points North. See Tighten the tripod base lock knob (16, Fig. 1a). Press ENTER. -
Page 18: Observe A Star Using Automatic Tracking
The tracking motors will then keep the star you have chosen in the center of the eyepiece. If you wish to track another star, use the Arrow keys to slew the telescope to the star. Center the star. The tracking motors will then keep that star in the center of the eyepiece. - Page 19 Alignment Option Screen - “Setup: Align” displays. Press ENTER. Select Alignment - “Align: Easy” displays. Press ENTER. Set Alt/Az Home Position - Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az Alignment home position. To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position (Fig. 16): •...
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Page 20: Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Earth is rotating beneath the stars. IMPORTANT NOTE telescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks (9 and 16, Fig. 1a), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost. This exercise shows how to select a celestial object (Saturn) for viewing from Autostar’s database. -
Page 21: Basic Autostar Operation
AUTOSTAR OBJECT Select from over 30, 220 database objects and press GO TO to move the telescope automatically to the object and place it in the telescopic field of view. SETUP Select Item:... -
Page 22: Entering Numbers And Text Into Autostar
To Calculate Sunset time: Press the MODE key several times, until “Select Item: Object” is displayed. Press the Scroll Down key once to display the “Event” option in the “Select Item” menu. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise"... -
Page 23: Menus And Menu Options
GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constellation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to that star. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest. -
Page 24: Event Menu
If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar database object, the nearest database object is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to that object. Browse allows you to search the database for objects with certain parameters, much like a WARNING! search engine. -
Page 25: Glossary Menu
Be careful not to shine bright lights if there are other observers in the area. Never shine a flashlight into a telescope while someone is observing! •... -
Page 26: Setup Menu
Cord Wrap, when set to "On," moves the telescope in such a way as to prevent the cords and cables attached to your telescope assembly from getting wound around the assembly and tangled as the telescope slews to objects. - Page 27 NASA, Hubble, HST, astronomy, Messier, satellite, nebula, black hole, variable stars, etc. Check Meade’s website for the latest product and technical information. You can download the latest software revisions, links to other astronomical sites, coordinates of celestial objects and the latest satellite tracking information for your Autostar II handset.
- Page 28 Autostar first slews to a nearby bright star and displays "ENTER to Sync." Center the star in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescope has a high precision alignment to that part of the sky and it then slews to the object that was originally requested.
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Page 29: Advanced Autostar Features
Software: Sends only the basic Autostar software. This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version of Autostar software from the Meade website (www.meade.com) and wants to pass this software along to friends. All: Everything—user-defined information and Autostar software—is sent to another Autostar. -
Page 30: Advanced Autostar Features
If you plan to observe using Autostar at different geographic locations, you can store up to six observation sites in Autostar's memory to help simplify your telescope setup. Perform these procedures using the Site options (Add, Select, Delete, Edit) of the Setup menu. -
Page 31: How To Create Your Own Guided Tour
"text only" or as a "MS-DOS text" file). • The Meade #505 Cable Connector Kit to download tour information to the Autostar handbox. Tour Modes The objects chosen for a tour list are selected from Autostar's database or by entering the object's RA and Dec coordinates. - Page 32 Writing a Tour Using the list of commands listed above, a custom tour can be created. Placing the word AUTO SELECT before any of the command lines activates Automatic Mode and, when selected, Autostar automatically searches and finds the designated object. The following is a list of command lines, complete with keywords and necessary strings: TITLE Title must be the first keyword in your tour after any comment lines and must be 15 characters...
- Page 33 PICK END AUTO SLEW ON / AUTO SLEW OFF With AUTO SLEW ON enabled in the tour, Autostar automatically slews the telescope to objects first before displaying the text description. This feature is useful when designing tours in which observing certain objects is required. For example, an astronomy professor may require his...
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Page 34: Landmarks
In this procedure, you will store the location of terrestrial landmarks in Autostar's memory. Set the telescope in the home position, if necessary. Note for future reference where the telescope is located and if you have aligned the telescope, which alignment method is used. -
Page 35: Identify
In this procedure, you will center an object you wish to have identified by Autostar 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 database. -
Page 36: Browse
Browse This menu allows you to search the database for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, and "Start Search" activates the search. A typical search might be performed as follows: Select "Browse"... -
Page 37: Optional Accessories
3,000 dealer locations in the U.S. and Canada and through Meade international distributors worldwide. Once you have identified the accessories you wish to order, contact your local Meade authorized dealer. To find a dealer near you call (949) 451-1450 or visit the Meade website at www.meade.com. -
Page 38: Caring For Your Telescope
Do not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in the warm indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry unattended. -
Page 39: Specifications
Secondary mirror obstruction (dia.; %) . . 27.9mm (1.1”); 9.6% Telescope mounting..Single-arm, motorized Alt-Az Battery (user-supplied) ......8 x AA DSX-125AT Optical design . -
Page 40: Appendix A: Celestial Coordinates
(Fig. 26). IMPORTANT NOTE: For almost all astronomical observing requirements, approximate settings are acceptable. Do not allow undue attention to precise alignment of the telescope to interfere with your basic enjoyment of the instrument. North Celestial +90 Dec. -
Page 41: Appendix B: To Find Objects Not In The Database
Check out your local library, computer store, bookstore, navigate through the CD Roms, Internet, or magazines (such as Sky & Telescope or Astronomy), to find coordinates menus, a more direct of celestial objects. The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your own permanent way to enter database, called "User Objects."... -
Page 42: Appendix C: Observing Satellites
Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade website (www.meade.com) approximately once a month to get updated information and instructions on how to download this data to Autostar. If orbital parameters are more than one month old, the satellite pass may not happen at the time predicted by Autostar. -
Page 43: Appendix D: Training The Drive
APPENDIX D Training the Drive Train the telescope motors using Autostar. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 27 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure. Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this NOTE: exercise once every 3 to 6 months to maintain the highest level of telescope pointing accuracy. -
Page 44: Basic Astronomy
Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar. See GLOSSARY MENU Objects in Space Listed below are some of the many astronomical objects that can be seen with the DSX Series Telescope: The Moon The Moon is, on average, a distance of 239,000 miles (380,000km) from Earth and is best observed during its crescent or half phase when Sunlight strikes the Moon’s surface at an... - Page 45 Listed below are the best planets for viewing through the DSX Series. Venus is about nine-tenths the diameter of Earth. As Venus orbits the Sun, observers can see it go through phases (crescent, half, and full) much like those of the Moon.
- Page 48 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.