Related Manuals for Meade Advanced Coma-Free f/8 LX600 with StarLock
Summary of Contents for Meade Advanced Coma-Free f/8 LX600 with StarLock
- Page 1 INSTRUCTION MANUAL 10", 12" and 14" Advanced Coma-Free™ f/8 LX600™ with StarLock™...
- Page 2 ® The name “Meade,” “AutoStar,”“StarLock” and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce and in principal countries throughout the world. Deep Sky Imager,” “LX600,” and “Tonight’s Best” are trademarks of Meade Instruments Corp.
- Page 3 Battery Safety Instructions WARNING! • Always purchase the correct size and grade of ® Never use a Meade LX600 Telescope battery most suitable for the intended use. to look at the Sun • Always replace the whole Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant set of batteries at one and irreversible damage to your eye.
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Page 4: Table Of Contents
Slew Speeds....... . . 20 Meade Customer Service ..... . . 48 Astronomical Observing . -
Page 5: The Lx600 Telescope
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and innovation, Meade Instruments introduces the latest in a long line of advanced astronomical products: the LX600. Using revolutionary new technology, every aspect of this amazing telescope system has been designed to deliver the new standard in astrophotographic and visual performance: •... -
Page 6: Quick Start
QUICK START It is recommended that you attach the LX600 ACF telescope to the vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully supplied tripod for observing. Perform the telescope and AutoStar collapsed. Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight II setup indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the... - Page 7 On/Off switch HBX port Lock knobs Figure E. Loosen the leg lock knobs, extend the lower portion of Figure G. The LX600 control panel). the leg and tighten the knobs (turn to a fi rm fi t). Remove the travel screw on the rear OTA Use the provided To collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope), rotate hex key to remove the travel screw (the position of the travel the spreader bar 60°...
- Page 8 the dust cap from the rear cell port (A) of the telescope (Note: Telescope not shown for clarity). Thread the microfocuser adapter (B) into the rear cell port thread. Slide the microfocuser (C) over the microfocuser adapter and tighten the three hex screws on the microfocuser (K) using the provided hex keys.
- Page 9 Depending on the optional accessories you attach, additional weights may need to be purchased. Tighten, to a fi rm feel only, the RA and DEC locks. Press the Power Switch on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on AutoStar II’s LCD display.
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Page 10: Lx600 Features
LX600 FEATURES (Not shown) 1& (Not shown) h h h own) (Not shown) Eyepiece RA slow-motion control Eyepiece thumbscrew RA setting circle 1.25" diagonal prism RA lock Diagonal prism thumbscrew Computer Control Panel (see page 12 for more information) Rear cell port Autostar II holder Two-speed focus knob Fork handles... - Page 11 2& 3& Optical tube (see page 10) AutoStar II handbox Fork Arm Jumper Cables 3& DEC setting circle StarLock assembly Fork Arm Connecting Plates Viewfi nder collimation screws StarLock dovetail bracket Connecting Plate Bolts (4 per fork arm) 8 x 50 viewfi nder StarLock retaining bolts (see page StarLock Cable GPS receiver...
- Page 12 LX600 FEATURES The Meade LX600 ACF models are extremely versatile, high- Caution: Do not operate the RA or DEC slow-motion controls performance telescopes for imaging and visual use. With with the locks in the fully locked position, as such operation...
- Page 13 Meade accessories. the telescope eyepiece. Your PC can control your LX600 ACF telescope GPS Receiver: Receives information transmitted from using the supplied AutoStar Suite software for Global Positioning System satellites. See page 24 for more custom applications.
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Page 14: Autostar Ii Features
Meade website (www. in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential meade.com). To learn about downloading updates see Page 35. menu structure make AutoStar II extremely user friendly. Requires the optional #507 Cable Connector Kit (product# 07047. - Page 15 Additionally, use the Arrow keys to to move the cursor across the ENTER Key: Press to go to the next menu level or to choose display: Use the Right or Left Arrow key (Fig. 2, 5) to move the an option in a menu. The ENTER key is similar to the RETURN cursor from one number to the next in the display.
- Page 16 the directions that scroll on the second line. When satisfi ed with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the original screen and continue with the chosen procedure. Tip: When an astronomical term appears in [brackets], press ENTER for a defi nition or more detailed information. Press MODE to return to the scrolling AutoStar II Help display.
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Page 17: Getting Started
GETTING STARTED Parts Listing replace the covers.) 3. Plug in the AutoStar II handbox: Be certain Getting the telescope ready for fi rst light requires only a few that the power switch on the computer control minutes. When fi rst opening the packing box, note carefully the panel (Fig. - Page 18 handbox into the holder: Slide one side of the Collimation screws Viewfi nder handbox into the holder and then fi rmly press receiver eyepiece the other side of the handbox into the holder until it snaps in place. Adjust the tilt of of the holder by loosening the lock knob and then moving the holder clamp to the desired angle.
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Page 19: Choosing An Eyepiece
Connection” port on the back of the StarLock Too Much Power? unit, and the six-pin into the “StarLock” port on the fork arm. Can you ever have too much power? If the type of power you’re referring to is eyepiece 11. -
Page 20: Observing Using Autostar Ii's Arrow Keys
OBSERVIING Observing Using AutoStar II’s The nine available speeds are: Number Key 1= 1x = Guide Rate, programmable Arrow Keys Number Key 2= 2x = 2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec You may observe land and astronomical objects using or 0.008°/sec) AutoStar II’s Arrow keys to move the telescope. -
Page 21: Moving Through Autostar Ii's Menus
Moving Through AutoStar II’s Menus parked it, AutoStar II will remember its position on the worm gear. If you do not park the scope The AutoStar II database is organized in levels for quick and and turn it off, it will not remember its position. easy navigation. -
Page 22: Polar Mode
Alt-Azmuth mode. The LX600 telescope was designed star, or if you have any doubts at all about the star to be operated in the Polar mode using Meade’s X-Wedge. that has been chosen, no problem. Just press the This precision machined, rigid equatorial wedge is designed to Scroll Down key and AutoStar will fi... -
Page 23: One-Star Polar Alignment
Tip: The GO TO key also allows you to perform a “spiral Which One’s the Alignment Star? search”. A spiral search is useful when the telescope slews to an object, but that object is not visible in the If AutoStar II has chosen an alignment star with which eyepiece after the telescope fi... -
Page 24: Observe A Star Using The Automatic Feature
Calibrate Home The Global Positioning System After a precise polar alignment (drift alignment) you may want to The Global Positioning System (GPS) is comprised of 24 calibrate the Home Sensors on your mount. This procedure sets satellites orbiting the Earth that are constantly transmit- the 90 degree declination position and the zero hour angle of the ting their precise position and time. -
Page 25: Focusers
Press RET/GUIDE (Number key “7”) to select this menu directly GoTo Saturn from Autostar II’s keypad. This “Hot Key” provides the ability to This exercise demonstrates how to select a celestial object, the control the StarLock system easily and directly from any place planet Saturn, for viewing from AutoStar II’s Solar System library. - Page 26 Press ENTER to display information about the object. Press GO TO to move the telescope to the object. 5. Press MODE to return to the Tour list. Press the Scroll keys to scroll through the list. Press ENTER when you fi nd the next object you wish to observe.
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Page 27: Autostar Ii Operation
AUTOSTAR II OPERATION Two-line LCD display ENTER key MODE key GO TO key Arrow keys Number keys Scroll keys ? key Coil cord port Coil cord Utility light Figure 7: The AutoStar II handbox through the options in the opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to get to an option that is near the bottom of the list. -
Page 28: Autostar Navigation Exercise
Some options are choices that select the next menu level down. the Event menu. The Scroll keys move up and down within the list of available 8. Press MODE again to move up another level. This options, showing one option at a time. is the top level, “Select Item”. -
Page 29: Autostar Ii Menu Tree
AUTOSTAR II MENU TREE Figure 11: The AutoStar II Menu Tree... -
Page 30: Navigating Autostar Ii
9. Press the Up or Down Arrow key. Notice that a (if properly aligned) and points it at the selected object. Six of letter of the alphabet displays. Continue to press the most popular libraries can be accessed directly using the one of the Arrow keys until the fi... -
Page 31: Event Menu
Up and Down keys to display the available data. This option is telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not loosen the dependent on your location. WARNING: NEVER USE A MEADE telescope locks or move the base or alignment is lost. -
Page 32: Utilities Menu
Utilities Menu • Suggest: Autostar II calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on the The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features telescope and the object being viewed. within Autostar II, including a countdown timer and an alarm. Brightest Star: Gives you a choice of Autostar displaying “CTR The Utilities functions include: Bright Star”... - Page 33 North, time, alignment stars—are stored in c. Solar: Choose this option when observing the Autostar II’s memory and are remembered after Sun. WARNING: NEVER USE A MEADE LX600 you power off the telescope. You can enable TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN unless...
- Page 34 One very practical use of the Event menu is to check the when it is ready. See the Meade Telescope Sunset option to determine when you can begin your Protocol Specifi cations for details.
- Page 35 This is useful if one user has downloaded a new version Site: Site provides access to several options including: of Autostar II software from the Meade website (www. • Select: Displays the currently selected observing meade.com) and wants to pass this software along to site.
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Page 36: Hot Button" Menu
Utility light are described earlier in the manual. It is advised that you perform one training and then immediately Focus Control Menus: If you have installed the Meade Zero follow-up with two updates for maximum Periodic Error Correction. Image Shift Micro Focuser, Press Number key “4/Focus” to The level of training is necessary for critical applications such as long select these menus directly from Autostar II’s keypad. -
Page 37: Advanced Autostar Ii Features
ADVANCED AUTOSTAR II FEATURES Before trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself will edit the location’s name, latitude, longitude, and the time with the basic operations of AutoStar II described earlier in this zone shift. You will then select the site to enable it. manual. -
Page 38: Creating User Objects
Alaska -9 Hours 5. “Name” displays on the top line and a blinking Hawaii -10 Hours. cursor on the second line. Use the Arrow keys, as previously described, to enter the name of the 10. After entering the shift, press ENTER. “Edit Time object you wish to add to the database. -
Page 39: Landmarks
Satellite orbits change and new satellites (including the Space 4. Press the Scroll Down key once and “Select Item: Shuttle) are launched. Visit the Meade website (www.meade. Object” displays. Press Enter. “Object: Solar com) approximately once a month to get updated information and System”... -
Page 40: Identify
5. Press the Scroll Up key twice and “Object: AutoStar II has a limited amount of memory. Once you begin to Landmarks” displays. Press ENTER. “Landmark: store Landmarks, user objects and other bits of information in Select” displays. AutoStar II, you will begin to use up memory. This procedure allows you to check on how much memory is still available. -
Page 41: Browse
Magnitude that matches the search parameters you Size have entered. Use the scroll keys to display Scrolling message “This Globular Cluster is information about the object. Press MODE 10,000 light years and “Start Search: Next” displays again. away...” Press ENTER and the next item matching the parameters displays. -
Page 42: Two-Star Alt-Az Alignment
move the telescope until the star is visible and centered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER. Repeat the procedure for the second alignment star. Note: See WHICH ONE’S THE ALIGNMENT STAR, page 23, for some important tips concerning alignments stars and using your viewfi... -
Page 43: Polar Drift Alignment (Northern Hemisphere)
Polar Drift Alignment (Northern of a telescope. Follow the steps below to perform this procedure using StarLock: Hemisphere) Point the telescope’s OTA at a moderately bright star near The LX600 with StarLock is specially equipped to perform an 0 declination (celestial equator). Automatic Drift Alignment. -
Page 44: Optional Accessories
99% of the light refl ected to the eyepiece. This diagonal allows you to use the advanced 2" eyepieces like Meade’s Series 5000 UWA, XWA and HD-60s for wider, sharper fi elds. The Series 5000 2" diagonal comes with a 1.25" adapter for using standard sized eyepieces. - Page 45 More accessories will soon be available for your LX600 model. To fi nd out more about these and other accessories available for your telescope, check out the Meade website at www.meade. com or contact your local Meade dealer. 10" f/8 12"...
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Page 46: Maintenance
Organic materials (e.g., fi ngerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3 As part of fi nal optical testing, every Meade Advanced Coma- parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. Free telescope is precisely collimated at the Meade factory You may also add 1 drop of biodegradable before shipment. -
Page 47: Inspecting The Optics
a. The only adjustments possible, or necessary, on star image fl ies out of the eyepiece fi eld, then the Advanced Coma-Free Telescopes LX600 ACF you are turning the screw the wrong way. Turn models are from the three screws (as shown in the opposite direction and bring the image back Fig 15.) to the center of the fi... -
Page 48: Gauging The Movement Of The Telescope
Time, Monday through Friday. In the unlikely event that your LX600 ACF requires factory servicing or repairs, write or call the Gauging the Movement of the Meade Customer Service Department fi rst, before returning the Telescope telescope to the factory, giving full particulars as to the nature of the problem, as well as your name, address, and daytime A common complaint of many fi... -
Page 49: Specifi Cations
Clear aperture ..............254mm (10") Focal length ..............2032mm Focal ratio (photographic speed) ........f/8 Resolving power ............0.46 arc sec Coatings ..............Meade Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) Mounting ..............Cast-aluminum, double-tine forks Gears ................5.75"-dia. worm gears, both axes Periodic Error Correction ..........Both axes Alignment ..............Altazimuth or equatorial wtih optional wedge Slew Speeds ..............1x sidereal to 8°/sec in 9 increments... - Page 50 Clear aperture ..............305mm (12") Focal length ..............2438mm Focal ratio (photographic speed) ........f/8 Resolving power ............0.38 arc sec Coatings ..............Meade Ultra-High Transmission Coatings (UHTC) Mounting ..............Cast-aluminum, double-tine forks Gears ................5.75"-dia. worm gears, both axes Periodic Error Correction ..........Both axes Alignment ..............Altazimuth or equatorial w/optional wedge Slew Speeds ..............1x sidereal to 8°/sec in 9 increments...
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Page 51: Appendix A Training The Drive
APPENDIX A: TRAINING THE DRIVE Train the telescope motors using AutoStar II. Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. Fig. 18 depicts the complete Drive Training procedure. Note: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. -
Page 52: Appendix B Starlock Utility
StarLock. The telescope will need to be turned on to supply of the original image are binned together to make the power to the StarLock. Next you need to attach a standard Meade displayed image. AutoStar #507 telescope interface cable to the “PC” connector on For example, zooming 4x4 results in 16 pixels being combined into the right side of rear of the StarLock. - Page 53 The Utility program also has the ability to load new fi rmware into the StarLock. The fi rmware release code must fi rst be downloaded from Meade’s website. It should be put in an easily located directory such as your desktop. The fi le will be named “StarLock_Vxy.Ldr”.
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Page 54: Automatic Rate Calibration (Arc)
and Set Dec Rate to 33%. Exit the StarLock menu by pressing MODE. Wait for the StarLock light to come on continuously to indicate that it has locked up on the star. At this point, simply go the hand box menus and select Setup/Telescope/RA PEC/ Train and press ENTER. -
Page 55: Appendix D Split Fork Arms
APPENDIX D: SPLIT FORK ARMS With the removal of eight (8) boltss the OTA is easily separated cables. Loosen the DEC lock and rotate the OTA so that the from the telescope. This detachable OTA is a departure from the objective points down, towards the base, and relock the DEC to original design LX200 series design that preceded your LX600. - Page 56 Rotate fork arms so that the RA lock points upward will be pointing upward to easily accept the hanger screw as it slips down. If you have not already done so, lock the DEC axis. Orient the OTA so that when you lift it the “hanger” screw will be positioned so that OTA will hang from it when you place it and slide the OTA fork arm plates on the base’s fork arm plates.
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Page 57: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment
APPENDIX E: EQUATORIAL (POLAR) ALIGNMENT Equatorial Alignment longitude grid for the celestial sphere. These lines are known as In equatorial (or “polar”) alignment, the telescope is oriented so Right Ascension and Declination. that the horizontal and vertical axes of the telescope are lined up The celestial map also contains two poles and an equator just with the celestial coordinate system. - Page 58 X-Wedge An optional equatorial X-Wedge is required for equatorial (polar) alignment. Note: The Meade X-Wedge is recommended for the 10" to 14" models. The equatorial wedge permits use in an astronomical, or “equatorial” mode. The wedge fi ts onto the fi eld tripod allowing you to take longer exposure photographs with your LX600 ACF.
- Page 59 Refer to the instruction sheet included with your equatorial wedge for information about attaching the wedge to the telescope and Note: The Meade equatorial wedge is designed solely for use in also about using the azimuth and latitude controls. conjunction with your Meade tripod. The wedge should never be 1.
- Page 60 Alignment on page 43 for more information on using Starlock to obtain a precise polar alignment. If you wish to manually obtain a precise polar alignment, the Meade Astrometric Reticle Eyepiece (see OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44) is well-suited in this application, but it is also preferable to increase the effective magnifi...
- Page 61 Telescope: Mount” menu. The rest of the procedure is identical to the (Alt-az) Easy (Two-Star) Align, page 41, except the telescope will be placed into the Polar home position before beginning the night sky alignment. Pointing at Polaris Two-Star Polar Alignment Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky.
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Page 62: Appendix F X-Wedge Installation
APPENDIX F: X-WEDGE INSTALLATION The Meade X-Wedge is designed for use with the Meade Giant Field Tripod. C C C C Hex wrenches (3) Center mounting bolt (1) and washer (1) 5/16" hex screws (3) washers (3) 3/8" hex screws (3) -
Page 63: Mounting The Telescope
Azimuth thrust bar pin Figure E. The azimuth thrust bar pin positioned in the Figure G. X-Wedge with threaded rod cap and 5/16" hex screws tangent arm. secured. 3. Place the wedge on the tripod head, sliding the 65°, unthread the lock screw with the supplied azimuth thrust bar pin into the tangent arm slot hex key wrench and move the screw to the (Fig. - Page 64 base. The desired hole is located at the curved end tighten all three 3/8" hex screws at this time. Do of the telescope drive base (see Fig. I). Be sure not overtighten. to leave approx, 3/4" of the screw exposed to allow for clearance of the wedge tilt plate.
- Page 65 Follow these simple steps for a quick and Magnetic Declination of the observing area easy azimuth alignment. by referring to the Magnetic Declination Map (Fig O). Locate this value on the compass a. Slightly loosen the three 5/16" hex screws face for future reference.
- Page 66 Figure O. Magnetic declination map of North America.
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Page 67: Appendix G Latitude Chart
APPENDIX G: LATITUDE CHART (110 km) North of the listed city, add one degree for every 70 Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World miles. If the site is over 70 miles South of the listed city, subtract To aid in the polar alignment procedure (see page 57), latitudes one degree per 70 miles. -
Page 68: Appendix H Manual Drift Alignment
APPENDIX H: MANUAL DRIFT ALIGNMENT 7. If the star drifts above the RA axis, use the How to manually Drift Align the LX600 Telescope (Northern Azimuth adjustment knob on the X-Wedge to Hemisphere). move the star to the right and down until the star The LX600 with StarLock is specially equipped to perform an is almost out of the fi... -
Page 69: Appendix I The Moon Menu
APPENDIX I: THE MOON MENU The Moon option of the Object menu allows you to observe the 11.Press GO TO. The telescope slews to the Apollo moon in a way never possible before. You will be able locate 15 site. many specifi... -
Page 70: Advanced Coma-Free Optical System
(2) in the fi gure would be lost entirely, except for the performance to the amateur astronomer. oversize primary. It is this phenomenon which results in Meade ACF having off-axis fi eld illuminations about 10% greater, In the ACF design shown above, light enters from the right, passes aperture-for-aperture, than other systems utilizing standard-size through a thin lens with 2-sided aspheric correction (“correcting... -
Page 71: Recycling
RECYCLING INFORMATION (EU Countries only) Correct Disposal of this Product (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) This marking shown on the product or its literature indicates that it must not be disposed of in unsorted municipal waste at the end of its working life To prevent possible harm to the environment or human health from uncontrolled waste disposal, please separate this from other types of wastes and recycle it as required by law. - Page 72 Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments 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.