Instruction Manual Meade Model 4504 4.5" (114mm) Equatorial Reflecting Telescope With Starfinder Electronic Hand Controller ENTER MODE GO TO SPEED ? MEADE STARFINDER Meade Instruments Corporation WARNING NEVER USE A MEADE® 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. How This Manual is Organized This manual is divided into three major sections. Part One, "The Basics," presents several "Lessons" that will teach you how to assemble and use your telescope and Starfinder. If you follow all the Lessons in this section, you will become familiar with the basic operation of your telescope and the Starfinder handbox by the end of Part One. This section covers the following procedures: Lesson 1: Unpacking and Assembly. How to unpack and assemble the basic telescope and tripod unit. Lesson 2: Balancing the Telescope. How to balance the telescope. Lesson 3: Aligning the Viewfinder. How to align the viewfinder and insert the eyepiece into the focuser. Lesson 4: Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually. How to focus an eyepiece. How to move your telescope manually to make observations. Lesson 5: Observing using Starfinder's Arrow keys. How to install the motor drives. How to change the slew speeds. How to observe using Starfinder's Arrow keys. Lesson 6: Tracking Objects. How to Polar align your telescope. How to observe using automatic tracking. Lesson 7: Observing using Starfinder's Go To Capabilities. How to initialize Starfinder and train the drive. How to move around in Starfinder's menus. How to observe using Starfinder and how to take a Guided Tour of the night sky. Part Two, "Starfinder's Controls and Menus," provides more information about Starfinder's databases and menus. Part Three, "Caring for Your Telescope," provides information that explains how to properly maintain your telescope. The Appendices provide advanced information about your telescope, explain how objects move through the skies, and teach how to locate objects not listed in the Starfinder database. ® The name "Meade" and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. © 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE: The Basics Lesson 1: Unpacking and Assembly ....................................................................5 How to Assemble Your Telescope ......................................................................8 Lesson 2: Balancing the Telescope ....................................................................10 Lesson 3: Aligning the Viewfinder ......................................................................10 Lesson 4: Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually ..................................11 Observe the World Around You........................................................................13 Lesson 5: Using Starfinder's Arrow Keys ............................................................13 Motor Drive System and Starfinder Handbox Installation ................................13 Activate the Arrow Keys ..................................................................................14 Slew Speeds ....................................................................................................14 Observe the Moon............................................................................................15 Lesson 6: Tracking Objects ................................................................................15 To Polar Align the Telescope ............................................................................15 Observe a Star Using the Automatic Tracking Feature....................................16 Lesson 7: Using Starfinder's GO TO Capabilities ..............................................16 Moving Through Starfinder's Menus ................................................................16 Initializing Starfinder ........................................................................................17 Training the Drive ............................................................................................19 Align Your Telescope Using Starfinder ............................................................20 Check Mount ....................................................................................................20 Go To Saturn ....................................................................................................21 Using the Guided Tour ....................................................................................21 Some Observation Tips....................................................................................22 PART TWO: Starfinder Controls and Menus Starfinder Controls ..............................................................................................23 How Starfinder's Menus Work ............................................................................26 Starfinder Navigation Exercise ............................................................................26 Starfinder Menus..................................................................................................28 Object Menu ....................................................................................................28 Event Menu ......................................................................................................29 Glossary Menu ................................................................................................29 Utilities Menu....................................................................................................30 Setup Menu ......................................................................................................31 PART THREE: Caring for Your Telescope Cleaning ..............................................................................................................33 Mount and Tripod Adjustments............................................................................33 Collimation (Alignment) of the Optics ..................................................................34 Specifications ....................................................................................................37 Appendix A: Calculating Eyepiece Power ..........................................................38 Appendix B:Terrestrial Viewing, Celestial Movement, & Polar Alignment ..........39 Appendix C: Using Starfinder to Enter Celestial Coordinates ............................42 Appendix D: Helpful Charts ................................................................................43 Appendix E: Basic Astronomy ............................................................................44 Objects in Space ............................................................................................44 A Roadmap to the Stars ..................................................................................46 Star Locator ....................................................................................................46 page 3 1 2 3 7 4 5 8 6 9 10 11 12 15 13 Fig. 1: Parts included in the Meade Model 4504 Giftbox. 14 16 page 4 PART ONE: The Basics LESSON 1: Unpacking and Assembly As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The bolded numbers in parentheses on this page refer to the photos on page 4. Telescope Assembly · Equatorial mount (1) with a pre-attached heavy duty, continuously adjustable aluminum tripod with leg braces · 3 tripod leg lock knobs (7) · Complete optical tube assembly (2) including a 4.5" (114mm) diameter primary mirror with dust cover and a 0.965" rack-and-pinion focuser with dust cap · 2 Cradle rings (3) with attached lock knobs · Counterweight (8) and counterweight shaft (9) · 5 x 24 viewfinder with rubber eyecup (5) and viewfinder bracket (10) Motor Assembly · Dual electronic motor drive assembly: The Right Ascension (R.A.) electronic motor drive (12) has a connector for the battery pack, marked "15v." The Declination (Dec) electronic motor drive (13) has a connector for the Starfinder handbox, marked "HBX." The motors are connected with a coiled cord. · Starfinder handbox (14) · Battery pack (16) and battery pack case (15) with adhesive backing Accessories · 3 Eyepieces (11) (0.965" optical diameter): SR 4mm, H 12.5mm, H 25mm · 3x Barlow lens (4) · Accessory shelf with mounting knob (6) · 2 Hex Keys, 1.5mm, 5mm (not depicted) · Astronomical software (not depicted) You will need a #1 or #2 Phillips screwdriver to assemble this telescope. Key to the photos, Fig. 1, page 4. 1. Tripod assembly with equatorial mount 2. Optical tube 3. Cradle rings 4. 3x Barlow lens 5. Viewfinder tube 6. Accessory shelf 7. Tripod leg adjustment knobs 8. Counterweight 9. Counterweight shaft 10. Viewfinder bracket 11. Eyepieces 12. R.A. motor drive 13. Dec motor drive 14. Starfinder handbox 15. Battery pack case 16. Battery pack page 5 7 6 8 5 4 3 2 9 15 10 14 11 12 13 Fig. 2a: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. 1 16 Key to Figures 2a, 2b, and 2c 1. Equatorial mount 2. Optical tube assembly 3. Cradle rings 4. Viewfinder bracket 5. Viewfinder rubber eyepiece 6. 5 x 24 viewfinder 7. Viewfinder bracket thumbscrews 8. Telescope front dust cover 9. Dec setting circle 10. Counterweight 11. Counterweight shaft 12. Safety washer/thumbscrew 13. Counterweight lock 14. Latitude dial 15. R.A. setting circle 16. Latitude adjustment knob 17. Focuser, Focus knobs 18. Eyepiece thumbscrew 19. Eyepiece 20. Cradle ring lock knobs 21. Optical tube saddle plate 22. Dec motor drive assembly 23. Latitude lock 24. Azimuth lock 25. R.A. motor drive assembly 26. R.A. lock 27. Dec lock 28. Tripod legs brace support 29. Tripod legs lock knobs 30. Accessory shelf page 6 NOTE: The coiled cord that connects to the two motor drives has been omitted from the illustration for the sake of clarity. 19 18 20 21 20 27 17 26 22 23 25 24 Fig. 2b: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. 28 28 29 30 29 Fig. 2c: The Meade Model 4504 4.5" Equatorial Reflecting Telescope. page 7 How to Assemble Your Telescope Leg lock knob Threaded hole Sliding inner leg The giftbox contains the optical tube assembly and the tripod with the equatorial mount. The accessories are located within compartments custom-cut into the styrofoam block inserts. Refer to Figures 1, 2a, 2b, and 2c for images of the parts and the overall assembly of the 4504 telescope. 1. Remove the components from the giftbox: Remove and identify the telescope's standard equipment. For a listing of parts that are included in the giftbox, see pages 4 and 5. When removing the tripod from the giftbox, hold the assembly parallel (horizontal) to the ground or the inner tripod leg extensions will slide out as they are not locked in place. 2. Install the lock knobs on the tripod: Place the tripod in a horizontal position on the floor before performing this step. The three tripod lock knobs (7, Fig. 1) have been removed from the bottom section of each tripod leg to insure safe arrival of the tripod assembly. To install, thread each tripod lock knob into the threaded hole located at the right side of each of the three gray-colored castings at the bottom of each tripod leg. See Fig. 3, and 29, Fig. 2c. Tighten the tripod lock knob to a "firm feel" only to avoid damage to the tripod caused by overtightening. 3. Stand the tripod: Hold the mount for support (the mount will be loose) and stand the tripod in a vertical position. Slide the cardboard sheath upward to allow it to come free when the tripod legs are spread out during the next step. Fig. 3: Tripod leg lock knob. Fig. 4: Accessory shelf installation. 4. Adjust the tripod legs. Spread the tripod legs as far as they will open, so that the leg braces (28, Fig. 2c) are taut. Should one of the leg braces slip out of the center triangle fastener, reposition the brace and slide it back into the triangle fastener. Lock knob Pin 5. Attach the accessory shelf to the tripod: Remove the mounting knob from the round accessory shelf (6, Fig. 1). Place the accessory shelf on top of the center triangle leg brace fastener so that the threaded stud protruding from the bottom of the shelf (Fig. 4) passes through the hole in the center of the triangle fastener. Next, thread the mounting knob shaft into the threaded stud. Tighten to a firm feel. 6. Attach the counterweight to the counterweight shaft: Look through the hole in the counterweight and note the pin blocking the hole (Fig. 5). Tilt the counterweight slightly ...