Instruction Manual 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 7" LX200GPS Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope with Autostar II Hand Controller Meade Instruments Corporation The Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System (2) (1) Ray (2) Ray (1) 8.218" 8.016" (2) (1) 8.0" Focal Plane Secondary Mirror Primary Baffle Tube Field Stops Primary Mirror Correcting Plate Secondary Baffle 8.0" (1) (2) 1/2° (8" model depicted in diagram. Not to scale.) In the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the Meade 8", 10", 12", 14", and 16" LX200GPS models, light enters from the right, passes through a thin lens with 2-sided aspheric correction ("correcting plate"), proceeds to a spherical primary mirror, and then to a convex secondary mirror. The convex secondary mirror multiplies the effective focal length of the primary mirror and results in a focus at the focal plane, with light passing through a central perforation in the primary mirror. The Meade 8", 10" and 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain models include an oversize primary mirror, yielding a fully illuminated fieldof-view significantly wider than is possible with a standard-size primary mirror. Note that light ray (2) in the figure would be lost entirely, except for the oversize primary. It is this phenomenon which results in Meade Schmidt-Cassegrains having off-axis field illuminations about 10% greater, aperture-for-aperture, than other Schmidt-Cassegrains utilizing standard-size primary mirrors. Field stops machined into the inside-diameter surface of the primary mirror baffle tube significantly increase lunar, planetary, and deep-space image contrast. These field stops effectively block off-axis stray light rays. The Meade Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System The Meade 7" (178mm) Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System Field Stops 8.25" Focal Plane Meniscus Lens Secondary Baffle 7" Primary Baffle Tube Primary Mirror (f/2.5) (Diagram not to scale) The Meade 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain design optimizes imaging performance by utilizing a combination of a two-sided spherical meniscus lens (right), a strongly aspheric f/2.5 primary mirror, and a spherical secondary mirror. The convex secondary mirror multiplies the effective focal length of the primary by a factor of six, resulting in an overall a focal length of 2670mm and a focal ratio of f/15 system at the Cassegrain focus. The oversize 8.25" primary mirror results in a fully-illuminated (unvignetted) field of view significantly wider than can be obtained with Maksutov optics incorporating primary mirrors of the same aperture as their meniscus correcting lenses. Computer-optimized primary and secondary mirror baffles, as well as a sequence of field stops internal to the primary mirror baffle, yield lunar, planetary, stellar, and deep-space images of uncommonly high contrast and resolution. CONTENTS WARNING! Never use a Meade LX200GPS Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. ® Caution: Use care to install batteries in the orientation indicated by illustration in the battery slots of the battery holder. Follow battery manufacturer's precautions. Do not install batteries backwards or mix new and used batteries. 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. If you are anxious to use your telescope for the first time, read the QUICK-START GUIDE on pages 4 and 5. 16" LX200GPS Users: See APPENDIX F, page 62, for features unique to the 16" model. 14" LX200GPS Users: See APPENDIX G, page 66, for features unique to the 14" model. ® The name "Meade" and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. "LX200GPS" and "Autostar II" are trademarks of Meade Instruments Corporation. "Easy Align" U.S. patent 6,392,799 and other patents pending. Intelligent Network Architecture to Facilitate Parallel Task Management U.S. patent 6,304,376 © 2003 Meade Instruments Corporation. Quick-Start Guide .......................................................... 4 Telescope Features ...................................................... 6 Autostar II Features ........................................................ 9 Getting Started ..............................................................12 Parts Listing ..............................................................12 How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope ..............12 How to Assemble Your Telescope ............................13 Choosing an Eyepiece ..............................................14 Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder ....................15 Observing ......................................................................16 Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually ........16 Terrestrial Observing ................................................16 Observing Using Autostar II's Arrow Keys ................16 Focusing the Eyepiece with the Microfocuser ..........17 Slew Speeds ............................................................17 Observe the Moon, Astronomical Observing ..........18 To Track an Object Automatically..............................18 Moving Through Autostar II's Menus ..................18 Automatic Alignment ............................................18 Observe a Star Using Automatic Tracking ..........20 Go To Saturn ............................................................20 Using the Guided Tour ..............................................20 Basic Autostar II Operation ............................................22 Autostar II Navigation Exercise ................................22 Navigating Autostar II................................................23 Autostar II Menus ........................................................24 Menu Tree ................................................................24 Objects Menu ............................................................25 Event Menu ..............................................................26 Glossary Menu, Utilities Menu ..................................27 Setup Menu ..............................................................28 Hot Button Menus ....................................................31 Advanced Autostar II Features ......................................32 Adding Observing Sites ............................................32 Creating User Objects ..............................................33 Observing Satellites, Landmarks ..............................34 Identify ......................................................................35 Browse ......................................................................36 Alternate Alt/Az Alignment Methods ..........................37 Initialize Autostar II (for Alternate Alignments) ..........37 Easy (Two-Star) Alignment ......................................37 Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment ........................................37 To Set the Home Position Manually ....................38 One-Star Alt/Az Alignment ........................................38 Periodic Error Correction ..........................................39 Photography ..................................................................40 Optional Accessories ......................................................41 Maintenance ..................................................................44 Specifications ................................................................47 Appendix A: Equatorial (Polar) Alignment ......................50 Appendix B: Latitude Chart ............................................55 Appendix C: How to Create Your Own Guided Tour ......56 Appendix D: Training the Drive ......................................60 Appendix E: The Moon Menu ........................................61 Appendix F: 16" LX200GPS Features............................62 Appendix G: 14" LX200GPS Features ..........................66 Appendix H: De-rotater and Microfocuser Assembly ....67 Appendix I: Smart Mount................................................68 Basic Astronomy ............................................................70 QUICK-START GUIDE It is recommended that you attach the supplied tripod to the LX200GPS for observing. Perform the telescope and Autostar II setup indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing. The setup is the same for the standard field tripod and the giant field tripod. Remove the spreader bar (see above figure) from the shipping carton. Slide the spreader bar onto the threaded rod. Slide the rod through the tripod base. Position the spreader bar so that its three arms line up with the three tripod legs. Threaded Rod Tripod Base "C" Clip in slot 1. Remove the field tripod from the shipping carton. Stand the tripod vertically with the tripod feet down and with the tripod still fully collapsed. Grasp two of the tripod legs and, with the full weight of the tripod on the third leg, gently pull the legs apart to a fully open position. 4. Place the "C" clip into the slot in the threaded rod above the tripod head--this clip holds the threaded rod in place. Tension Knob 5. 2. Thread in two lock-knobs on each leg (six total) near the foot of each tripod leg. Use the lockknobs to vary the height of the inner, extendible tripod leg sections. Tighten the locks to a firm feel only; do not overtighten. Take the LX200GPS from its packaging and place the entire telescope onto the top of the tripod head, inserting the threaded rod into the central hole in the bottom of the drive base of the telescope. Tighten the tension knob (see above figure) to a firm feel only; firm tightening of the tension knob is sufficient to result in rigid positioning of the tripod legs. Slide rod through Tripod base Battery Compartment Line up with leg Spreader Bar 6. 3. Remove the threaded rod from the tripod head. A small piece of plastic holds the threaded rod in place. Remove the small plastic bag that is stapled to the threaded rod. This bag contains the "C" clip retainer and an extra clip. Remove the covers of the battery compartments located on the fork arms (one on each fork arm) and carefully lift the battery holders from their compartments, being mindful of the connector wires. Insert four (user-supplied) C-cell batteries into each battery holder, oriented as shown on the diagram on the battery holder. Return the battery holders to their respective compartments. Replace the covers when you are done. 4 Display ON/OFF HBX Port 7. Press the computer control panel power switch to OFF, if necessary. Remove the Autostar II handbox and the Autostar II coil cord from the packing materials. Plug one end into the HBX port of the telescope's computer control panel and plug the other end into the coil cord port on the Autostar II handbox. 9. Press the Power Switch on the computer control panel to the ON position. The copyright message lights on Autostar II's LCD display. µ Slew Speeds: Speed 9: Fast . . Speed 5: Medium . . Speed 1: Slow Arrow Keys Speed Key Number Keys OR 8. Attach microfocuser: Remove 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. Important Note: The Microfocuser is shipped with the microfocuser adapter (B) threaded to the SC accessory adapter (L). Unthread the adapters from each other before attaching the microfocuser. Set aside the SC accessory adapter. For more information about the SC accessory adapter, see SC OPTIONAL ACCESSORY USERS, page 14. 10. Press the key prompted by Autostar II to accept the Sun warning. Autostar II now displays "Automatic Alignment." You can then use the Arrow keys to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. To change the telescope's slew speed, press the Speed key and then the Number keys. "9" is the fastest speed and "1" is the slowest speed. See page 17 for more details. ¸ R.A. Lock Dec. Lock 1.25" Diagonal Prism Users: If using the 1.25" diagonal prism (G), slide the 1.25" adapter (D) into the microfocuser. Line up the thumbscrew into the groove in the microfocuser (I, also see Fig. 7a and 7b, page 14). Slide the 1.25" diagonal prism into the adapter (D). Tighten the adapter thumbscrew (H) to a firm feel only. Tighten the microfocuser thumbscrews (I) to a firm feel only. 2.0" Diagonal Mirror User ...