® DS P/N 14-0500-00 06/00 CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................................................................................5 Unpacking ..........................................................................................................................5 Assembly: 60mm and 70mm models ................................................................................5 Assembly: 80mm, 90mm, 114mm, and 127mm Models ....................................................7 Balancing the Tube in the Mount ........................................................................................7 Attaching the Viewfinder ....................................................................................................7 Focusing the Viewfinder ................................................................................................9 Aligning the Viewfinder ..................................................................................................9 Observing Through the Telescope......................................................................................9 The Focuser and the Eyepiece-Holder ........................................................................10 Astronomical Observing................................................................................................10 Eyepieces and Magnification........................................................................................10 The Barlow Lens ..........................................................................................................10 A Note About Power......................................................................................................11 Collimation of the Telescope's Optical System ................................................................11 Maintenance......................................................................................................................11 Questions and Repairs ................................................................................................11 Appendix 1: Optical Alignment of 114mm and 127mm Models: ......................................13 Appendix 2: Telescope Control Systems ..........................................................................15 #490 Manual Slow-Motion Control set ........................................................................15 #492 Dual-Motor Electronic Control System ................................................................15 To Install the #492 System ..........................................................................................15 Operating Notes on the #492 Dual-Motor Electronic Control System ........................17 #493 Autostar Computer Control System ....................................................................18 To Install the #493 System ..........................................................................................18 Appendix 3: Optional Electronic and Computer Drive Systems ......................................19 #490 Manual Control Set..............................................................................................19 #492 Dual-Motor Electronic Control System ................................................................19 #493 Autostar Computer Control System ....................................................................19 #495 Autostar Handbox................................................................................................19 #497 Autostar Handbox................................................................................................19 ® The name "Meade," the Meade logo, and "Autostar" are trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent Office and in principal countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. © 2000 Meade Instruments Corporation. -3- 3 2 1 19 4 5 6 9 14 11 18 12 10 16 17 15 7 20 8 21 13 13 13 A -4- Assembly and Operating Instructions for Meade® Digital Electronic Telescope Series 60mm (2.4"), 70mm (2.8"), 80mm (3.1"), 90mm (3.5") Refracting Telescopes; 114mm (4.5"), and 127mm (5") Reflecting Telescopes Numbered references are to the figures on the pages of this manual. Example: "D-4" refers to item 4 of Fig. D. WARNING! Never use a Meade® DS 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 as indicated by the battery compartment. Follow battery manufacturers' precautions. Do not install batteries backward 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. Introduction: Meade Digital Electronic Telescope Series (DS) models are illustrated in the following figures: Fig. A -- 60mm and 70mm refracting telescopes; Fig. B -- 80mm and 90mm refracting telescopes; Fig. C -- 114mm and 127mm reflecting telescopes. Telescope optical specifications (diameter, D, and focal length, F) are printed on a foil plate affixed to the optical tube. Example: 60mm models have a diameter D = 60mm and a focal length F = 700mm. Meade DS instruments are available in a variety of trade names (Polaris, Saturn, TeleStar, etc.), with different levels and types of accessorization. All of these telescopes, however, share the same basic optical tube assemblies, mechanical mountings, tripods, and other features. The instructions provided here apply equally well to all DS trade names. All Meade DS telescopes are similar in assembly and operation. Fig. A is used in these instructions for most references where assembly or operation is identical among all the models. Differences among the models, where these differences affect assembly or operation, are pointed out below. Users of DS models which include (either as part of the original telescope or purchased separately as an optional feature) an additional telescope control system (such as the #490 Manual Slow-Motion Control Set, the #492 Dual-Motor Electronic Control System, or the #493 Autostar Computer Control System) should first assemble the basic telescope; instructions for adding one of these optional control systems are given in Appendix 2 of this manual. Unpacking: Locate and remove the following components and parts from the packing box: optical tube (A-1); viewfinder (A-4) and viewfinder bracket (A-5); yoke mount (A-6); tripod legs (A-7); poly bag with 3 bolts and nuts for attaching the tripod to the yoke (60mm and 70mm models only); accessory shelf (A-8); one or more eyepieces (A-9); diagonal mirror (A-10, not included with 114mm and 127mm models). On 60mm and 70mm models the optical tube is factory-attached to the yoke mount and the tripod legs are packed separately in the packing box. On all other models the yoke mount is factory-attached to the three tripod legs and the optical tube is packed separately in the packing box. Assembly: 60mm and 70mm Models -- Attach the three (aluminum) tripod legs to the base of the yoke mount, as shown in Fig. A. In attaching each leg, slide one of the bolts through the hole (A-12) at the top of the leg, thread the hex nut on to the opposite end of the bolt, and -5- 5 1 6 4 7 6 5 7 8 3 2 2 9 3 1 B 9 9 4 D 6 1 5 11 8 7 9 4 2 5 3 1 5 3 4 2 E 10 10 10 C -6- use a "+" (Phillips-head) screwdriver to tighten the bolt to a "firm feel." Do not overtighten. Note that each tripod leg includes a flip-lock (A-13) for adjusting the overall length of the tripod. These flip-locks should all face inward as the legs are attached to the yoke mount. With the tripod legs attached to the yoke mount and sitting on a flat surface, spread the legs out gently until all legs are fully spread out. Attach the accessory shelf (A-8) to one of the tripod legs by placing one of the shelf's flanges (A-20) at one edge of a tripod leg and then pulling the shelf around the leg until the other shelf flange snaps into place. (To remove the accessory shelf, push one of the flanges with both thumbs from the outside surface of the tripod leg.) The accessory shelf can be pushed up or down the tripod leg to a convenient height. The telescope should now appear as in Fig. A, except that the viewfinder (A-4) has not yet been attached. Note: Assembly of 60mm and 70mm models supplied with hardwood tripods is similar to the assembly described above. Each tripod leg attaches with one of the supplied bolts (D-5) through holes at the top of the leg; a washer and wing nut (D-6) fasten each leg to the base of the yoke mount (D-7). The metal flange (D-1) of each wood tripod leg should face inward. Attach the metal, triangle-shaped accessory shelf (D-2) to each of the three tripod legs using the thumbscrews (D-3) and wing nuts provided. To adjust tripod height, slide the inner section of each tripod leg up or down, securing it in position with firm-feel tightening (do not overtighten) of the thumbscrew (D-4). Assembly: 80mm, 90mm, 114mm, and 127mm Models -- Place the tripod (with yoke mount attached) on a flat surface and gently spread the three tripod legs outward until they are fully spread out. Each of these models includes a cradle ring system (B-1 or C-1), permitting the optical tube to be moved upward or downward within the cradle rings for proper balancing of the tube on the yoke mount. As the yoke mount/tripod assembly is removed from the packing box, only the lower-half (E-1) of each cradle ring is present. Locate the upper half (E-4) of each cradle ring in the packing box and connect each upper-half ring to its respective lowerhalf ring by inserting the flange (E-2) of each upper-half ring into the slot (E-3) located at the top of the lower-half ring. Be certain that each flange (E-2) is firmly seated into the corresponding slot. Each upper-half ring should now close down to form a complete circular ring without undue pressure being required. Open the upper-half rings and place the optical tube into the cradle rings. See Fig. F. Close the rings and tighten (to a firm-feel only) the latches (E-5). The telescope should now appear as in Figs. B or C, except that the viewfinder (B-6) or (C-6) has not yet been attached. The flip-lock (B-9 or C-10) on each tripod leg permits adjustment of tripod height. Balancing the Tube in the Mount (80mm, 90mm, 114mm, and 127mm models only): Loosen slightly (by rotating half a turn counterclockwise) the vertical lock (B-2 or C-2). Placing your hand on the upper end of the optical tube, move the tube up and down in a vertical direction within the U-shape yoke mount (B-4 or C-4). The tube should move easily and be well-balanced about the vertical axis of motion; if not, slightly loosen the cradle ring latches (E-5), move the optical tube up-or-down within the cradle rings to achieve good balance, and re-tighten the latches (E-5). Attaching the Viewfinder: Because the main telescope has a fairly narrow field of view, locating objects directly in the main telescope can sometimes be difficult. The viewfinder (A4) is a small, wide-field telescope with crosshairs that permits easy object location. With the viewfinder and main telescope aligned to each other, so that both point to the same position in the sky, the observer first locates an object in the viewfinder; the object is then also positioned within the field of the main telescope. The viewfinder bracket (A-5) attaches to the focuser housing at the position shown in Figs. A, B, or C. (On 114mm and 127mm models the viewfinder bracket attaches to the mounting block (C-7) located on the main telescope tube, near the focuser.) Using a "+" (Phillips-head) -7- 3 2 176mm (6.9") 6 x 30mm 30mm (1.2") 3 2 148mm (5.8") 24mm (0.94") 1 H 5 x 24mm 1 F J 2 3 8 3 1 6 3 5 7 4 K G ] -8- screwdriver, secure the bracket in position by tightening the two attachment screws (G-1) inside the bracket (these screws are placed inside the bracket at the factory) into the mating threads (G-6) located on the focuser housing, or (in the cases of 114mm and 127mm models) located on the mounting block (C-7). Slide the viewfinder (G-2), eyepiece-end (G-8) first, into the viewfinder bracket. (Remove the rubber eyecup (G-8) from the viewfinder before sliding the viewfinder into the bracket. Replace this rubber eyecup after the viewfinder is positioned in the bracket.) Tighten (to a firm-feel only) the four alignment thumbscrews (G-3) to hold the viewfinder in the bracket. Focusing the Viewfinder: Each Meade DS telescope is supplied with one of two viewfinder models, 5 x 24mm or a larger 6 x 30mm. Identify the viewfinder of yo ...