Meade-instruments LXD 75 User Manual

Instruction ManualLXD 75-Series Telescopes ™MEADE.COM

10Note: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or more and then released,Autostar emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER toSync"

11As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The assembly isshipped in separate boxes.Telescope AssemblyW Equatorial mount with

12Note: If the counterweight ever slips, the safety cap (23, Fig. 1d) preventsthe counterweight from sliding entirely off the shaft. Always leave thes

131b) into the the diagonal. Tighten the diagonal's thumbscrews to a firm feel tosecure the eyepiece.Note: Two eyepiece holders are included with

14Important Note: Objectsappear upside-down andreversed left-for-right whenobserved in the viewfinder.With refracting telescopemodels, objects viewedt

15Low power eyepieces offer a wide field of view, bright, high-contrast images, and eyerelief during long observing sessions. To find an object with a

16supplied with your telescope. When the object is centered and focused in the eye-piece, switch to a higher power eyepiece to enlarge the image as mu

17Speeds 1, 2, or 3: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of ahigher power eyepiece, such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece.Speeds

18Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking FeatureIn this example, Autostar's Arrow keys are used to find a star, and then Autostar'strac

19Moving Through Autostar’s Menus (Autostar Models Only)Autostar's menus are organized for quick and easy navigation.W Press ENTER (2, Fig. 2) to

20a.Autostar prompts you to enter the Country or State (listed alphabetically) ofthe observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the database

2115."Drive Setup: For this..." begins to scroll across the display. This is anotherreminder to point your telescope at a terrestrial objec

225.Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays and the telescope slews until it findsSaturn.You may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precis

It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 19).This meansthat pressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 2) cycles down thr

243. Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level."Event: Sunrise" is displayed.4. Press the Scroll Down

25Solar SystemMercuryEtc.MoonAsteroidsCometsConstellationsAndromedaEtc.Deep SkyNamed ObjectGalaxiesNebulaePlanetary Neb.Etc.StarNamedSAO CatalogDouble

26MENUS Object MenuAlmost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category.(Note: Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark S

27Browse allows you to search the library for objects with certain parameters, much likea search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set vari

28WSet: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then pressENTER.W Start/Stop:Activates the timer set previously. Use the Sc

29Then check the "Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunset time on that date. SeeEVENT MENU, page 27.Time changes the time entered into Autos

Telescope Features ... 4Autostar Features ...

30b. Lunar: Choose this option to properly track the Moon over long observingsessions.c. Custom: Allows entry of user-defined tracking rates.W Reverse

31Downloadtransfers information from another Autostar. During the operation, thewarning “Downloading Do Not Turn Off” appears.Clone uploads informatio

32USEFUL AUTOSTAR PROCEDURESBefore trying out the examples in this section, familiarize yourself with the basic oper-ations of Autostar described earl

3311.Press MODE. "Site: Edit" displays.12. Using the Arrow keys, scroll to "Site: Select." The site you have just edited dis-plays

34Observing SatellitesIn this procedure, you will prepare your telescope to observe a satellite pass.1.Navigate to the "Object: Satellite" m

35Another setup method is to select an object from the Landmark database. See TOSELECT A LANDMARK FROM THE DATABASEbelow. Then manually move the tele-

36Photography through an LXD75 Schmidt-Newtonian and Newtonian Reflector telescoperequires an LXD75-Series T-Adapter(supplied) attached to the telesco

37OPTIONAL ACCESSORIESA wide assortment of professional Meade accessories is available for the LXD75-Seriestelescope models.The premium quality of the

38Series 4000 8 - 24mm Zoom Eyepiece: The internal zoom optics of this eyepiecemove on smooth, precisely machined surfaces which maintain optical coll

39Fig. 30: Optional Autostarhandbox for EC model users.nal of the telescope, followed by an eyepiece. The #1A Skylight Filter threads ontothe rear cel

TELESCOPE FEATURES4Fig. 1a: The LXD75-Series Telescope Optical Assembly (Schmidt-Newtonian model with Autostar handbox shown;Electronic Controller mod

40MAINTENANCEGeneral MaintenanceLXD75-Series telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetimeof rewarding applications. Given

41shipment of your telescope. It is only necessary for you to confirm that the telescopehas not been badly jarred out of collimation, and to perform t

424. Perform an actual star test to confirm the accuracy of steps 1 through 3. Using theSP 26mm eyepiece, point the telescope at a moderately bright (

43Caution: Do not force the three collimationscrews past their normal travel and do not loosen them more than two fullturns in a counterclockwise dire

44Alignment (Collimation) of the Newtonian Reflector OpticalSystemThe optical systems of Newtonian Reflector telescopes include the following parts: p

4521332123451212321234362514Fig. 34Fig. 35.Fig. 36.Fig. 37. Fig. 38.Fig. 39.Fig.40.

46SPECIFICATIONS6" f/5 Model SN-6AT, SN-6EC SpecificationsOptical design...Schmidt-NewtonianClear aper

4710" f/4 Model SN-10AT SpecificationsOptical design...Schmidt-NewtonianClear aperture...

48Alignment ...German-type equatorial mountSlew Speeds...

49Autostar SpecificationsProcessor ...68HC11, 8MHzFlash Memory ...

5ABCDEFig. 1e: The LXD75-Series Computer Control Panel (see 2$ above).Fig. 1d: The LXD75-Series Mount; insert shows opposite side of Mount.2!2@T1&

50A celestial coordinate system was created that maps an imaginary sphere surround-ing the Earth upon which all stars appear to be placed. This mappin

51PolarisLittle DipperBig DipperCassiopeiaFig. 42 Locating Polaris.and also of the object you wish to locate, in a star atlas. Point the object at the

52APPENDIX B: ENHANCINGPOINTING PRECISIONThe Polar Alignment ViewfinderTypically Autostar's pointing capabilities are sufficient for most telesco

534. Autostar then chooses three stars from its database to align upon. When the telescope slews to a star for alignment, it may not appear in the fie

54Important Note:The image will appear right-side-up, but reversed left-for-right, in the eyepiece of a refractor telescope.The image will appearupsid

557.Rotate the telescope 180° in the R.A. axis ONLY, to return the optical tube to posi-tion A.8.Repeat steps 5 through 8, if necessary, alternating b

56The telescope first moves 180° on the Dec. axis and then rotates 180° on theR.A. axis. Autostar displays "Slewing...".When the telescope

57APPENDIX C: LATITUDE CHARTLatitude Chart for Major Cities of the World To aid in the polar alignment procedure (see pages 17-21), latitudes of major

58APPENDIX D: EC HANDBOXSome LXD75 models (designated with an “EC,” for example, AR-5EC) come equippedwith an Electronic Controller (EC) handbox, rath

595 MODEKey:Press and hold MODE to place the Electronic Controller into theMode function, i.e., to select operation for the Northern or Southern Hemis

LXD75-Series:Your PersonalWindow to the UniverseThe Meade LXD75-Series models are versatile, high-resolution telescopes. Suppliedwith either an Electr

607.When the test is complete, light 1 remains on; lights 2, 3, and 4 turn off.8. Use the four Arrow keys (1, Fig. 49) to slew the telescope to the de

61Note: The tracking rate can be increased by up to 65%.4. To use a rate slower than sidereal, press OUT (6, Fig. 49) until light 4 blinks again(sider

62APPENDIX E: MOUNTINGTHE MODEL SC-8 SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN OPTICALTUBEHow to Attach the Optical Tube to the MountThe LXD75 model SC-8 Schmidt-Cassegrain

63In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a telescope smaller than yourLXD75, turned it skyward instead of looking at the distant t

64PlanetsPlanets change positions in the sky as they orbit around the Sun. To locate the plan-ets on a given day or month, consult a monthly astronomy

65Further Study...This manual gives only the briefest introduction to astronomy. If you are interestedin pursuing further studies in astronomy, a few

14-7500-01 2/05CMEADE LIMITED WARRANTYEvery Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“

71% Viewfinder Bracket Screws:Tighten to a firm feel to hold viewfinder securely inplace (see E and h). See page 12 for more information.1^ Focus Lock

8sure to turn off the LED when finished with the polar viewfinder. Powered by (fac-tory-supplied) batteries contained within.3! R.A. Setting Circle: S

9Fig. 2: The Autostar Handbox.Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a ButtonControl of most LXD75-Series telescope models (excluding the EC models; se