Getting Started; Packing List; How To Assemble Your Telescope - Meade DS-2000 Series AutoStar-LNT-SmartFinder Instruction Manual

GETTING STARTED

Packing List

Getting the telescope ready for first observations requires only a few minutes. When first open-
ing the packing box, note carefully the parts listed on your giftbox.

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.
1.
Fig. 6: Attach cradle to
mounting arm.
2.
3.
Fig. 7: Attach and bal-
ance the optical tube. 4.
5.
6.
7.
Fig. 8: Slide viewfinder
into slip-fit bracket.
8.
9.
10. Attach the 90° diagonal prism (refractor models only): Pull out to remove the plastic
Fig. 9: Press down on the
quick release tab to
detach the viewfinder
from the bracket.
Open the tripod: After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand the tripod
vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Gently pull the
legs apart to a fully open position.
Attach the tray to the tripod: Place the tray (19, Fig. 1) over the inner support strut that
contains two bolt holes. Line up the bolts holes on the tray with the bolt holes on the strut.
Slide the two included bolts through the top of bolt holes (18, Fig. 1) and tighten the bolts
with the included wing nuts on the bottom side of the tray (Fig. 3). Tighten to a firm feel
only.
Note: The tray does not have to be removed when you collapse the tripod at the
end of a viewing session— just loosen the tray's center lock knob.
Three Pads: There are three pads in the tripod base (23, Fig. 1) and three pads on the
mounting arm assembly (16, Fig. 1). These pads allow the mounting arm assembly to move
more easily inside the base. See Fig. 4. This is pointed out just for the user's knowledge of
the telescope; the user does not need to adjust the pads which are pre-installed.
Attach the mounting arm assembly to the tripod base: Place the mounting arm assem-
bly into the tripod base and continue to hold onto the arm assembly. With your other hand,
reach underneath the base and thread the mounting lock knob (26, Fig. 1) through the tri-
pod base and into the mounting arm assembly. Tighten to a firm feel only; do not overtight-
en. While observing, you may wish to loosen this knob and rotate the mounting arm assem-
bly and optical tube ( see step #8 ) on the horizontal axis.
Remove the optical tube assembly from the cradle rings: The optical tube assembly is
shipped with the cradle rings attached. The rings need to be removed before they can be
attached to the mounting arm. Loosen the cradle lock knob (14, Fig. 1) until you can open
the cradle rings. Remove the optical tube assembly (13, Fig. 1) from the cradle rings.
Remove 4 screws from the mounting arm shaft: Locate the four screws on the mount-
ing shaft. Remove the screws using a "+" (Phillips head) screwdriver. Set the screws aside.
Attach the cradle to the mounting arm: Line up the cradle with the mounting arm shaft.
The cradle contains a molded "key" that fits into a slot on the shaft. Line up the key and the
slot, and slide the cradle onto the shaft. This automatically lines up the mating threads on
the cradle with the ones on the shaft. Replace the four screws into the mating threads using
the Phillips head screwdriver (Fig. 6). The key and slot on the shaft set limit stops for the
telescope so that it doesn't strike the base or pass beyond approximately 90° upright when
you use the Autostar handbox.
Attach and balance the optical tube: Replace the optical tube into the cradle ring.
Tighten the cradle ring lock knob so that it holds the optical tube loosely; do not tighten the
cradle ring lock knob at this point. Slide the tube back and forth until you find a position
where the tube remains horizontal ( i.e., without slightly tipping up or down). Tighten the cra-
dle rings lock knob to a firm feel. See Fig. 7. Adjust the length of the tripod legs to a com-
fortable viewing height using the leg locks (21, Fig. 1).
Attach the red dot viewfinder: The viewfinder has a slip-fit type bracket for easy attachment.
Just slide the viewfinder into the bracket until it clicks in place. To detach the bracket, press
down on the bracket's quick release tab and slide the bracket out. See Figs. 8 and 9.
dust cover from the eyepiece holder. Slide the tube of the diagonal prism (3, Fig. 1) into
the telescope's eyepiece-holder (2, Fig. 1) and tighten the thumbscrews (to a firm feel only)
to secure the diagonal prism in place.
Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the
Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.
11