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Related Manuals for Meade LX70 Series
Summary of Contents for Meade LX70 Series
- Page 1 Instruction Manual LX70 Series German Equatorial Telescopes...
- Page 2 Do not point the telescope at or near the Sun. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. ® The name “Meade” and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce and in principal countries throughout the world.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Meade Customer Service........ -
Page 4: Lx70 Key Features
LX70 Mount Key Features Mount Close-up DEC Axis RA Axis RA & DEC Axes LX70 Telescope Tripod Leg Lock Knob Counterweight Shaft Locking Nut Tripod Spreader Lock Knob DEC Setting Circle Tripod Spreader RA Setting Circle (not shown) Mount Locking Knob and Shaft RA Setting Circle Locking Knob Azimuth Adjustment Knob RA Clutch Locking Knob (see inset) - Page 5 LX70 OTA Key Features Front Dust Cover (not shown) Viewfinder Dust Caps Dovetail Rail Viewfinder Adjustment Screws Cradle Ring & Cradle Ring Lock Knobs Viewfinder Bracket with Lock Knob 1/4-20 Accessory Mounting Screw with Lock Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) Focuser and Focuser Wheel Objective Lens Cell Focuser Lock Knob Dewshield...
- Page 6 LX70 OTA Key Features Front Dust Cover (not shown) Viewfinder Adjustment Screws Dovetail Rail Viewfinder Bracket with Lock Knob Focuser Knob (not shown) Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) Eyepiece Diagonal Mirror Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrews Diagonal Mirror Thumbscrews Viewfinder Extension Tube Viewfinder Dust Caps Figure 4: LX70 Maksutov Optical Tube...
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Page 7: Getting Started
Getting Started shaft with the flat side facing up. Loosely thread on the Tripod Spreader Lock Knob and washer The Meade LX70 series models are versa- tile, high-resolution telescopes. They offer un- matched mechanical and optical performance that reveal nature in an ever-expanding level of detail. - Page 8 5. Attach the counterweight shaft: Locate When the pointer points at your latitude, tighten the counterweight shaft (Fig. 1, #9) and thread both screws until they make contact with the down the Locking Nut (Fig. 1, #13) until it stops. mount.
- Page 9 terweight lock knob so the pin is not obstruct- will need to balance the telescope before use. ing the hole. Unscrew the safety cap (Fig. 1, See the section BALANCING THE TELE- #10) from the shaft. Holding the counterweight SCOPE. firmly in one hand, slip the counterweight to ap- proximately the midpoint of the counterweight 11.
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Page 10: Balancing The Telescope
when you have finished observing. Back off the 4, #31) into the diagonal mirror. Tighten the eye- eyepiece thumbscrews (Fig 3, #32) and insert piece holder thumbscrews(Fig. 4, #32) to a firm the supplied eyepiece( Fig 3. #31) into the eye- feel to secure the eyepiece. -
Page 11: Aligning The Viewfinder
1. Firmly hold the counterweight shaft secure so the wide-field viewfinder, then look into the eye- it cannot swing freely. Loosen the R.A. lock(Fig. piece of the main telescope for a detailed view. 1, #17). The optical tube now moves freely about To align the viewfinder, perform steps 1 through the R.A. -
Page 12: Choosing An Eyepiece
For example, a 26mm eyepiece is supplied with to become accustomed to the functions and op- the LX70 series. The focal length of the 8” re- erations of the telescope. For the best results flector model is 1000mm. -
Page 13: Observe The Moon
en the R.A. and Dec. locks. Tracking Objects Once centered, an object can be focused by turning one of the knobs of the focusing mecha- As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the nism. Notice that when observing astronomical stars appear to move from East to West. -
Page 14: Locating The Celestial Pole
Locating the Celestial Pole In the northern Hemisphere, find the North Star Polaris by facing North. To get basic bearings at an observing location, take note of where the Sun rises (East) and sets (West) each day. After the site is dark, face North by pointing your left shoulder toward where the Sun set. -
Page 15: General Maintenance
Maintenance Inspecting the Optics General Maintenance A Note about the Flashlight Test: If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down LX70-Series telescopes are precision optical the main telescope tube, the view (depending instruments designed to yield a lifetime of re- upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle warding views. -
Page 16: Collimating The Newtonian Reflector
ly unthreaded to the point where the secondary Alignment (Collimation) of mirror-holder (Fig. 35, #3) can rotate about its axis parallel to the main tube. Grasp the sec- the Newtonian Reflector OTA ondary mirror-holder (avoid touching the mir- ror surface!) with your hand and rotate it until, The optical systems of Newtonian Reflector looking through the drawtube, you can see the telescopes include the following parts: primary... - Page 17 Figure 34 Newtonian Refl ector (section view) Newtonian Refl ector (section view) Figure 35 Figure 36 Figure 37 Figure 38 Figure 39 Figure 40...
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Page 18: Optional Accessories
Moon and planets. Each fil- polar scope includes a reticule pattern which is ter threads into the barrel of any Meade 1.25” eye- used in the alignment process, making the LX70 piece, and into the barrels of virtually all other eye- polar scope even more user friendly. -
Page 19: Appendix A: Celestial Coordinates
APPENDIX A: Declination (Dec.): This celestial version of lat- itude is measured in degrees, arc-minutes, and Celestial Coordinates arc-seconds (e.g., 15° 27’ 33”). Dec. locations north of the celestial equator are indicated with a plus (+) sign (e.g., the Dec. of the North ce- A celestial coordinate system was created that lestial pole is +90°). -
Page 20: Appendix B: Setting Circles
the objects DEC coordinate is aligned with the 0 APPENDIX B: registration mark. If the procedure has been fol- lowed carefully, the bright star should now be in the center of the telescope eyepiece and setting Setting Circles circles showing the bright star coordinates. To use the setting circles to locate an object not To locate another object, unlock the RA and easily found by direct visual observation:... -
Page 21: Appendix C: Latitude Chart
APPENDIX C: Latitude Chart Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World To aid in the polar alignment procedure, latitudes of major cities around the world are listed be- low. To determine the latitude of an observing site not listed on the chart, locate the city closest to your site or locate your site on the internet. -
Page 22: Appendix D: Basic Astronomy
Moon, and our solar system comes from observations made by amateur astronomers. Venus is about nine-tenths the diameter of So as you look through your Meade telescope, Earth. As Venus orbits the Sun, observers can keep in mind Galileo. To him, a telescope was... - Page 23 coloring on the planet’s surface may be visible. start with an easy grouping of stars, such as the Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Then, use a star chart and is eleven times the diameter of Earth. The to explore across the sky.
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Page 24: Meade Customer Service
Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instru- ments Corp. (“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 part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase. - Page 25 OBSERVATION LOG...
- Page 26 OBSERVATION LOG...
- Page 27 OBSERVATION LOG...
- Page 28 © 2014 Meade Instruments Corp. reserves the right to change product specifications or to discontinue products without notice. 12/2014 LX70 SERIES 14-9287-00 Rev 0...