Meade LT Series - Manual

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 5 GETTING STARTED You may want to perform the LT telescope assembly indoors in the light so that you become familiar with the parts and operation before moving the telescope outside into the dark for observing. This Getting Started Guide assumes you are too impatient to ...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 6 Mounting the Telescope Take the LT Series from its packaging and place the entire telescope onto the top of the tripod head. Rotate the telescope head slowly until you feel the scope register on the center hub of the tripod head. Carefully screw the three attachment th...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 7 Attaching Accessories Be sure the telescope master power switch is in the off position. Remove the LT Series handbox and the coiled interface cable from the packing materials. Plug one end into the HBX port of the control panel and plug the other end into the Handbox p...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 8 Adjusting the Red Dot Finder The Red Dot Finder has been aligned at the factory, but you may need to touch-up the alignment from time to time. To do this, look through the eyepiece of your scope and using the hand controller center a distant object. Now turn on the Red...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 9 ALIGNING THE LT SERIES 9 Aligning the LT Series As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it a...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 10 ALIGNING THE LT SERIES 10 Moving Through AutoStar’s Menus The AutoStar database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation. • Press ENTER to go deeper into AutoStar’s menu levels. • Press MODE to move back toward the top menu level. • Press the Scroll keys t...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 12 ALIGNING THE LT SERIES 12 Go To Saturn After performing the Easy Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position even though the Earth is rotating beneath...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 13 LT SERIES KEY FEA TURES Computer Control Panel Red Dot Finder Red Dot Finder Alignment Screws Handbox Storage Cradle AutoStar Suite Software Disc Diagonal Eyepiece Holder Diagonal Prism 1.25” Eyepiece Holder Eyepiece Holder Thumb Screw Eyepiece Single Fork Arm Mount 1...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 15 Diagonal Holder: Holds the eyepiece in place. Diagonal Prism: provides a more comfortable right angle viewing position. Slide the diagonal prism directly into the eyepiece holder (Pg. 13, Fig. 1, 3). 1.25" Eyepiece Holder Thumb Screw Eyepiece: Place the Super Plös...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 16 Meade makes a complete line of accessories to enable you to get the most fun and performance from your LT Series telescope. No matter what you want to accomplish, we have the equipment to help you get there. Choosing Eyepieces A telescope’s eyepiece magnifi es the ima...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 18 Universal AC Adapter (07584): This adapter supplies a constant regulated 12 volt DC at up to 5 Amps from either a standard 115 volt AC or 220 volt AC household supply. It is the only tested and recommended AC power supply for the LT Series system. Power Supplies While...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 19 Figure 5: The AutoStar #497 Handbox Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Control of the LT Series is through the operation of the standard-equipment AutoStar. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of AutoStar’s buttons...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 22 AUTOST AR #497 HANDBO X 22 the telescope up, down, right, or left. 4. Press a Number key (Pg. 19, Fig. 5, 6) to change the telescope’s slew speed. See Slew Speeds, on pg 20 for more information. 5. Use the viewfi nder (Pg. 13, Fig. 1, 13) to locate an object and pract...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 23 AUTOST AR OPERA TION 23 It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 10). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key (Pg. 19, Fig. 5, 7) cycles down through all the available options within a given category, then returns to the fi rst o...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 24 AUTOST AR OPERA TION 24 object in the eyepiece of the telescope for you to view. The telescope comes pre-loaded with: • “Tonight’s Best” , a selection of the most interesting objects visible on any night. • “A Star’s Life” , tours how stars are formed, created, change...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 25 T onight's Best Ho w F ar is F a r A Star's Lif e Solar System Mercur y Etc . Moon Asteroids Comets Constellations Andromeda Etc . Deep Sky Named Object Galaxies Neb ulae Messier Etc . Star Named SA O Catalog Doub le V a riab le Etc. Satellite Select Add Delete Edit U...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 26 Star is a database of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or nearby. Important Note: When you are looking at descriptive object text, pressing “ENTER” will synchronize the telescope’s coordinates with the object. This is most useful w...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 27 AUTOST AR #497 MENU OPTIONS 27 of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Ev...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 28 AUTOST AR #497 MENU OPTIONS 28 Sleep Scope is a power saving option that shuts down AutoStar and the telescope without forgetting its alignment. With “Sleep Scope” selected, press ENTER to activate the Sleep function. AutoStar goes dark, but the internal clock keeps r...

Advanced AutoStar Features Adding Observing Sites If you plan to observe using AutoStar at different geographic locations, you can store up to six observation sites in AutoStar’s memory to help simplify your telescope setup. Perform these procedures using the Site options (Add, Select, Delete, Edit)...

Using AutoStar to Find Objects Not in the Database In this procedure, you will enter coordinates of celestial objects that do not appear in any of the AutoStar database lists. You will enter the object’s name and R.A. and Dec. coordinates (required information). You may also enter the object’s magni...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 33 Cable Connector Kit. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 16. NOTE: Satellite observing is an exciting challenge. Most satellites are in low orbit, travelling at approximately 17,500 mph. When visible, they move quickly across the sky and are only in the fi eld of view for ...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 34 Description String: Description of an object. Must be surrounded by quotation marks. If the description is longer than one line, each line must end with a quotation mark and a hard return. Begin the next description line with a quotation mark. If quotation marks are t...

STAR “name” Enter STAR followed by the name of the desired star in quotes. For example: STAR “Vega” LANDMARK az alt “title” “description” Enter the azimuth (az) for the desired object in the following format: xxxdxxmxxs. For example: 123d27m00s. Then enter the altitude of the desired object in the f...

Identify This procedure allows you to use AutoStar to identify objects you have found in the night sky using the Arrow keys. If the object is not in AutoStar’s database, AutoStar displays information about an object in its database that is closest to the one you queried about. Important Note: The te...

One-Star Alt/Az Alignment One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database of bright stars. One-Star Alignment is identical to Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (see “Two-Star ALT/AZ Alignment,” above), except only one star from this database is chosen by the observ...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 41 7. If the LT Series is not to be used for an extended period, perhaps for one month or more, it is advisable to remove the batteries from the telescope. Batteries left in the telescope for prolonged periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope’s electronic circui...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 43 Inspecting the Optics A Note About the “Flashlight Test”: If a fl ashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle of the light) may reveal what appears to be scr...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 44 Press > until itis centered Press < until itis centered Train Drive Az. Train Train Drive Alt. Train Drive Setup For this op. . . Center referenceobject ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTER Scope slews left.Bring target backto center usingthe Right Arrow key. 12 13 14 15 16 ...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 45 In the early 17th century Italian Scientist Galileo, using a crude telescope considerably smaller than the LT Series, turned it to look towards the sky instead of distant trees and mountains. What he saw, and what he realized about what he saw, forever changed the way...

INDEX AutoStar #497 HANDBO X 47 SPECIFICA TIONS SPECIFICATIONS Model and Product Number 6" LT ACF # 0610-04-10 Optical System Optical Design Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) Primary Mirror Diameter 6” (152mm) Primary Mirror Material Pyrex® Glass Focal Length, Focal Ratio 1524mm, f/10 Optical Coatings Ul...

INDEX OPTICAL SYSTEMS 49 ACF AND SC OPTICAL SYSTEMS APPENDIX D: Unlike Schmidt-Cassegrain systems, Meade’s Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optical system provides razor-sharp pin-point star images all the way to the very edge of the fi eld of view. This aplanatic (coma-free) optical system brings the highe...

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY (DoC) FOR THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT: PRODUCT NAME : MEADE LT SERIES TELESCOPE MODEL NO : LT TRADE NAME : MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORP. IS HERE WITH CONFIRMED AND FOUND TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CFR47 PART 15 REGULATION. THE RESULTS OF ELEC...

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 t...

MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY 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 replac...