Instruction Manual - LX200 Classic

1 Instruction Manual7" LX200 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope8", 10", and 12" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain TelescopesMeade Instruments Corporation " " " "Primary Baffle TubeField StopsPrimary MirrorRay (1) Ray (2) (2) (1) (2) (1) 1/2 Secondary MirrorCorrecting PlateSecondary Baffle(2)(1)Focal PlaneThe Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System (Diagram not to scale)In the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the Meade 8", 10", and 12" models, light enters from the right, passes through a thin lens with2-sided aspheric correction ( correcting plate ), proceeds to a spherical primary mirror, and then to a convex aspheric secondarymirror.

2 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 8", 10", and 12" models include oversize ", " and " primary mirrors, respectively, yielding fully illuminated fields-of-view significantly wider than is possible with standard-size primary mirrors. 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 8", 10", and 12" Schmidt-Cassegrains having off-axisfield illuminations 10% greater, aperture-for-aperture, than other Schmidt-Cassegrains utilizing standard-size primary mirrors.

3 Theoptical design of the 4" Model 2045D is almost identical but does not include an oversize primary, since the effect in this case is Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes now feature new baffle tube designs. These computer-optimized designs incorporate a seriesof 7 to 11 (depending on the focal ratio and size of the LX200 ) internal field-stops to eliminate almost all internal reflections, yieldingthe best image contrast available in any Schmidt-Cassegrain available Meade 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain design optimizes imaging performance by utilizing a combination of two-sided sphericalmeniscus lens (right), a strongly primary mirror, and a spherical secondary mirror.

4 The convex secondary mirrormultiplies the effective focal length of the primary by a factor of six, resulting in an overall f/15 system at the Cassegrain oversize " primary mirror results in a fully-illuminated (unvignetted) field of view significantly wider than can be obtained withMaksutov optics incorporating primary mirrors of the same aperture as their meniscus correcting lenses. Computer-optimized primaryand 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.

5 " 7"Primary Baffle TubeSecondary BaffleField StopsPrimary Mirror ( )Focal PlaneThe Meade 7 Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System (Diagram not to scale)NOTE: instructions for the use of optional accessoriesare not included in this Manual . For details in this regard,see the Meade General 3 -Fig. 1:8 LX200 Viewfinder Dew Shield2. Viewfinder Collimation Screws3. Declination (Dec) Setting Circle4. Declination Pointer5. Focus Knob6. Eyepiece Holder7. Right Ascension ( ) Lock8. Right Ascension Slow-Motion Controls9. Right Ascension Vernier Pointer10.

6 Right Ascension Setting Circle11. Power Panel12. Keypad Hand Controller13. Diagonal Mirror14. Eyepiece15. Bubble Level16. Hour Angel (HA) Pointer17. Drive Base18. Viewfinder Focus Lock RingCaptions for Figure 1U WARNING!U Never use the LX200 telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instantand irreversible damage to your eye. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to theobserver that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinderat or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving.

7 Childrenshould always have adult supervision while 4 -Contents7" LX200 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope8 , 10 , & 12" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain TelescopeIntroduction .. 51. What is the LX200 ? An Overview .. 5a. Heavy-Duty Mounts .. 5b. Built-In 64,359 Object Library.. 5c. Altazimuth Mode Operation .. 5d. Terrestrial Operation .. 5e. Keypad and Power Panel Functions .. 52. Standard Equipment.. 5 Unpacking and Inspection .. 61. What You Should Have .. 62. Please Look Everything Over.. 63. Inspecting the Optics .. 64. Caution: All LX200 Owners.

8 65. Caution: 10 and 12 LX200 Owners .. 66. Keypad Version Number .. 6 Telescope Assembly .. 71. The Field Tripod .. 72. Mounting the Viewfinder .. 8a. Attaching the Viewfinder.. 8b. Focusing the Viewfinder .. 8c. Collimating the Viewfinder .. 83. Attaching the Diagonal Mirror and Eyepiece .. 84. Collimation .. 85. 12 Tube Swing-Through Limits .. 86. 7 Tube Swing-Through Limit .. 87. Maksutov Fan .. 8 Quick Start .. 91. Using the LX200 Manually .. 92. Using the LX200 in LAND .. 93. Using the LX200 in ALTAZ .. 10a. Entering Basic Information.

9 10b. Location of the Observing Site .. 10c. Local Time and Date .. 11d. Setting Up the Telescope .. 11e. Using the MODE key .. Object Keys .. 134. Star Alignment .. 13a. 1-Star with Known SITE .. 13b. 2-Star with Known SITE .. 13c. Unknown SITE .. 13d. Which Alignment Method to Use .. 13 The LX200 Keypad Hand Controller .. 141. ENTER Key .. 142. MODE Key .. 143. GO TO Key .. 144. Direction Keys .. 145. Speed Keys .. 146. RET Key .. 147. FOCUS Key .. 158. MAP Key.. 159. Object Keys .. 1510. PREV and NEXT Keys .. 15 The LX200 Power Panel.

10 151. ON/OFF Switch .. 152. N/S Switch .. 153. Ammeter .. 154. DEC Motor Connector .. 155. CCD Connector .. 166. Power 12vDC Connector .. 167. Keypad Connector .. 168. Reticle Connector .. 169. Focuser Connector .. 1610. RS-232 Connector .. 1611. Aux Connector .. 16 Mode Functions .. 161. Mode 1: Telescope/Object Library .. 16a. Telescope Menu File .. 16b. Object Library Menu File .. 202. Mode 2: Coordinates/GO TO .. 22a. Coordinates Menu File .. 22b. GO TO Menu Option .. 223. Mode 3: Clock/Calendar.. 224. Mode 4: TIMER/FREQ.