Meade Instruments LX200 - Manual (Page 20)

Meade Instruments Corporation - Meade LX200 Instruction Manuals
Releasing the Declination Lock Knob (2, Fig. 4), permits sweeping the telescope rapidly through wide
angles in Declination.
To use the Declination fine-adjust, or Manual Slow-Motion Knob, lock the telescope in Declination using the
Declination Lock Knob (2, Fig. 4), and turn the Declination Slow-Motion Knob (1, Fig. 4).
With the above mechanical operations in mind, select an easy to find terrestrial object as your first
telescope subject–for example, a house or building perhaps one-half mile distant.
Unlock the Declination Lock Knob (2, Fig. 4), and R.A. Lock (7, Fig. 3), center the object in the telescopic
field of view and then re-lock the Dec. and R.A. locks. Precise image centering is accomplished by using
the Dec. and R.A. slow motion controls.
The Focus Knob (5, Fig. 3) is located at the "4 o'clock" position as you face the rear cell of the telescope.
Focusing is accomplished internally by a precise motion of the telescope primary mirror so that, as you turn
the focus knob, there are no externally moving parts. You will find that if you turn the focus knob counter-
clockwise you are focusing towards the infinity setting, and turning clockwise is for close distance. There
are about 45 complete turns to go from one end of focus to the other, and it is possible to focus past
infinity. Be patient during focusing as images quickly go in and out of focus with only a slight amount of
turning of the focus knob.
Before using the telescope manually during the daytime, be sure to read "Daytime Slewing."
[ toc ] 2. Using the LX200 In Land
The 7", 8", 10", and 12" LX200 telescopes are shipped with the microprocessor set to Land, the align menu
option you will wish to use to view terrestrial objects. In this menu option 4 different motion speeds are
active, allowing the telescope to be moved electronically by means of the Keypad. To use the telescope in
Land, follow these steps.
1. Loosen the Dec. Lock Knob (2, Fig. 4) and position the optical tube assembly approximately level, so
that the Dec. Circle (3, Fig. 3) reads 0°. Retighten the Dec. Lock Knob.
2. Loosen the R.A. Lock (7, Fig. 3) and rotate the telescope so that the R.A. Pointer (9, Fig. 3) and the
Hour Angle (HA) Pointer (16, Fig. 3) are approximately in line with each other. This will position the fork
arms so that they are parallel to the Power Panel (11, Fig. 3). Tighten the R.A. lock.
The above two steps are not necessary for the telescope to work, so don't worry about having to get it
exactly right. The telescope has some "illegal" positions, places where the telescope will not go and these
two steps insure proper operation.
3. After setting up the telescope, plug in both coil cords with the Keypad, one of the supplied power
sources, either the AC Wall Adapter Power Converter (for AC current wall outlets), or the optional DC
Cigarette Lighter Power Cord (used in an automobile's cigarette lighter outlet, with the ignition turned on
only to allow the electric power on from the car battery).
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