Related Manuals for Meade DS-2000-LNT
Summary of Contents for Meade DS-2000-LNT
- Page 1 Instruction Manual DS-2000 Series Reflecting and Refracting Telescopes AutoStar ® — LNT ™ — SmartFinder ™ ™ MEADE.COM...
- Page 2 Refracting Telescopes use a large objective lens as their primary light-collecting element. Meade refractors, in all models and apertures, include achromatic (2-element) objective lenses in order to reduce or virtually eliminate the false color (chromatic aberration) that results in the telescopic image when light passes through a lens.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
DS-2000EC users may obtain the #494 Autostar handbox as an optional accessory. See page 42 for more information. ® The name “Meade,” “AutoStar,” and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. -
Page 4: Quick-Start Guide
QUICK-START GUIDE Open the tripod: Remove the tripod from the gift- box 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 Smartfinder, 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 view Saturn, go to...
- Page 6 Features of the DS-2000 Series telescopes are virtually identical. Certain features of your telescope may look different than, or be positioned slightly different than the one pictured here, but the functionality of the features is the same. (not visible) 1. Focus Knob 2.
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Page 7: Telescope Features
C. ON Switch: Press to turn 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 acces- sories. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES into this port. - Page 8 Accessory Tray Attachment Bolts - Attach to wing nuts to fasten tray to the tripod. See page 11 for more information. Note: It is not necessary to remove the tray each time you collapse the tripod. The tray is designed to be collapsed with the legs. Accessory Tray - Conveniently holds extra eyepieces, Autostar handbox, and other acces- sories.
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Page 9: Autostar Features
NOTE: If ENTER is pressed and held for two seconds or more and then released, Autostar emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER to Sync" can only be used after the telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. If the "ENTER accessed by mistake, press MODE to return to the previous screen. - Page 10 The GO TO key also allows you to perform a "spiral search." A spiral search is useful dur- the term "Alt/Az." Alt/Az ing alignment after the telescope slews to an alignment star, but the star is not visible in (short for altazimuth) the eyepiece when the telescope finishes its search.
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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 up and down and from side to side. -
Page 12: Using Smartfinder
Do not mix battery types. If these precautions are not followed, batteries may explode, catch fire, or leak. Improperly installed batteries void your Meade warranty. Always remove the batteries if they are not to be used for a long period of time. -
Page 13: Aligning Smartfinder
9. Press and hold MODE to exit this function. Aligning Smartfinder NEVER Because the main telescope has a fairly narrow field of view, locating objects directly in the point the main telescope can sometimes be difficult. Smartfinder (7, Fig. 1) projects a small red dot that telescope permits you to more easily locate objects. -
Page 14: Choosing An Eyepiece
The Barlow Lens ACCESSORIES, page 29, or consult the Some Meade telescopes include a power multiplier called a Barlow lens. Consisting of a lens Meade Telescope mounted in a 4"-long (10cm) tube, the Barlow doubles or triples the power obtained when an Catalog. -
Page 15: Terrestrial Observing
Tighten the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1) and tripod base lock knob (26, Fig. 1). across the display, Make sure the telescope power switch is in the OFF position. Plug Autostar into the HBX press and hold the port of the Control Panel. -
Page 16: Observe The Moon
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: Initializing Autostar
Tighten Locks: Tighten the Altitude lock (10, Fig. 1) and tripod base lock knob (26, Fig. Plug in Autostar: Make sure the telescope power switch is in the OFF position. Plug Autostar into the HBX port of the Control Panel. -
Page 18: Observe A Star Using Automatic Tracking
See pages 26 and 27 for more If you wish to track another star, use the Arrow keys to slew the telescope to the star. information. Center the star. The tracking motors will then keep that star in the center of the eyepiece. -
Page 19: Go To Saturn
NOTE: The GO TO key also allows you to perform a "spiral search." A spiral search is useful when the telescope slews to an object, but that object is not visible in the eyepiece after the telescope finishes its search. (This sometimes occurs during an alignment procedure.) Press GO TO when the slew is finished and the telescope... -
Page 20: Basic Autostar Operation
AUTOSTAR SETUP MENU Select Item: Quick, easy alignment Object permits all telescope Select Item: Setup MEADE MEADE The Universe of Autostar Select Item: Utilities GLOSSARY Select Item: Glossary , page 17, before proceeding with this exercise. -
Page 21: Entering Numbers And Text Into Autostar
Chandra, gamma burster, comets, Astronomy Day, etc. to go deeper into Check out Meade’s website for the latest prod- uct and technical information.You can download the latest software revisions, links to other astronomical sites, coordinates of celestial objects, and the latest satellite tracking informa- tion for the Autostar handbox. -
Page 22: Menus And Menu Options
MENUS AND MENU OPTIONS... -
Page 23: Object Menu
GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constel- lation. 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
Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of the Never use a current year. Meade DS- Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and date of the winter or summer solstice of 2000 Telescope to the current year. - Page 25 OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the alarm. When the alarm time arrives, Autostar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm. Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which Autostar is connected.
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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 tan- gled as the telescope slews to objects. "Off" is the default setting. - Page 27 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.
- Page 28 Delete: Deletes a stored site from the database. Edit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, latitude, longitude, and time zone. Time Zone refers to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone shift. Users West of Greenwich, England use “-” hours, East of Greenwich use “+” hours. For the United States, look up the time zone shift in NOTE: Autostar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected.
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Page 29: Optional Accessories
Consult the Meade General Catalog or www.meade.com for complete details on these and other accessories. Eyepieces: For higher and lower magnifications, Meade Series 4000 Super Plössl (SP) yield high- resolution imaging with all DS2000 telescope models. A useful selection includes the SP 9.7mm and SP 12.4mm eyepieces. -
Page 30: Caring For Your Telescope
Collimation DS-2000 refracting telescopes are optically aligned (collimated) at the factory prior to shipment, and it is never necessary to re-collimate the optics of these models. Meade DS-2114mm and DS-2130mm reflecting telescope models are also factory-aligned, but may occasionally require re-alignment, particularly if the telescope has received rough handling in shipment. - Page 31 Fig. 23. Fig. 24. Fig. 26. Fig. 28. Fig. 25. Fig. 27. Fig. 29.
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Page 32: Meade Customer Service
(per steps 1, 2, and/or 3, above) effected as required to keep the optics well-aligned. Meade Customer Service If you have a question concerning your DS-2000 Telescope, contact the Meade Instruments Customer Service Department at: Telephone: (800) 626-3233 Customer Service hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. -
Page 33: Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS DS-2060 Optical design...Refractor Clear aperture ...60mm Focal length ...700mm Focal ratio ...f/11.7 Resolving power ...1.9 arc secs Max power ...200X Mounting...Single-arm, motorized Alt-Az Alignment ...Altazimuth Slew Speeds ...1x sidereal to 5.5°/sec in 9 increments Tripod ...Aluminum, full-length; adjustable w/accessory tray Optical Tube Dimensions ...2.5"... - Page 34 DS-2114 Optical design...Reflector Clear aperture ...114mm Focal length ...910mm Focal ratio ...f/8 Resolving power ...1.0 arc secs Max power ...325X Mounting...Single-arm, motorized Alt-Az Alignment ...Altazimuth Slew Speeds ...1x sidereal to 5.5°/sec in 9 increments Tripod ...Aluminum, full-length; adjustable w/accessory tray Optical Tube Dimensions ...5.5"...
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Page 35: Appendix A: Celestial Coordinates
(Fig. 31). IMPORTANT NOTE: For almost all astro- nomical observing requirements, approxi- mate 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 36: 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 coordi- database, called "User Objects."... -
Page 37: 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 38: 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 prob- lems. Fig. 32 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 39: Appendix E: Battery Replacement
LNT Module assembly. After you replace the battery, you will need to recalibrate the telescope’s sensors and reset the time and date. You will need a new battery. Also, you may use Meade’s optional Atomic Time Update Module, although this is not necessary. - Page 40 APPENDIX F How to manually set the date to March 6, 2005: 1. Press ON/OFF to turn on the control panel. 2. Press the button prompted by the control panel to show that the Sun warning has been read and understood. Press ENTER to bypass Getting Started message. 3.
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Page 41: Appendix G: Electronic Controller (Ds-2000Ec Users Only)
When used with the optional #1240 Electric Focuser, moves the focus of the eyepiece. See the #1240 Electric Focuser Instruction Sheet for more information. Arrow Keys (1, Fig. 36): Press one of the four Arrow keys to slew the telescope (i.e., up, down, left, and right) at any one of four slew speeds (see... -
Page 42: Optional #494 Autostar For Ds-2000Ec Users
Electronic Controller, do a quick telescope alignment, and you are ready to observe any object in the Autostar’s 1400-object database. Best of all, the Meade Autostar is easy to use. Even the most novice observer will locate dozens of fascinating celestial objects the very first night out. Study Saturn and its ring system; the primary cloud belts of Jupiter as well as its four major satellites;... -
Page 43: Basic Astronomy
So as you look through your Meade DS-2000 telescope, keep in mind Galileo. To him, a telescope was not merely a machine made of glass and metal, but something far more—a window through which the beat- ing heart of the universe might be observed. - Page 44 Mars is about half the diameter of Earth, and appears through the telescope as a tiny reddish- a different position orange disk. It may be possible to see a hint of white at one of the planet’s Polar ice caps.
- 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.