Instruction Manual 16” LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Meade Instruments Corporation
NOTE: Instructions for the use of optional accessories are not included in this manual. For details see the Meade General Catalog. The Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System (Diagram not to scale) In the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the Meade 16” model, light enters from the right, passes through a thin lens (correcting plate) with two-sided aspheric correction, proceeds to a spherical primary mirror, and then to a convex aspheric secondary mirror.
WARNING! Never use the LX200 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 2 17 1 22 13 18 3 4 12 20 19 5 21 6 7 14 11 8 9 15 10 16 Fig.
Contents 16" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Mode Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 What is the LX 200? An Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . 1. Heavy-Duty Mounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2. Built-In 64,359 Object Library . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3. Altazimuth Mode Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4. Terrestrial Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-5catalog. INTRODUCTION As a new LX200 owner, you are preparing for a journey into the universe with the most advanced amateur telescope ever produced. This instrument is the culmination of twenty years of innovation and design at Meade Instruments. Never before have the features that you have in your hands been available to amateur astronomers: from robotic object-location to the revolutionary Smart Drive and the most stable mounting structure ever.
-6- 16” LX200 uses only one motor to track, and in this case Smart Drive corrects for periodic error in one axis only. Smart Drive uses a model of the gear system to perform periodic error correction (minute correction to the tracking rate of each motor). This model is created at the factory and stored in non-volatile memory. Smart Drive activates automatically and transparently to the user.
Commercial shipment of the 16" LX200 Telescope without the safety bolt in place and packed in the original factory supplied shipping containers as described above is done at the owner’s risk and your warranty may be voided if shipping damage results. TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY Use the following procedure to assemble your telescope: The 16” Field Tripod The 16” Field Tripod (Figs. 2 and 3) for the Meade 16” LX200 telescope is supplied as a completely assembled unit, except for the spreader bar (4, Fig.
-8- Attaching the 16” Drive Base a. Loosen the focus lock ring (17, Fig. 1). a. Rotate the field tripod so that one leg is pointing approximately South (it need not point exactly South). b. While looking at a star, rotate the dew shield (1, Fig. 1) until the star is in focus (this refocuses the objective lens). b. Position the 16” drive base (16, Fig. 1) onto the field tripod, with the power panel facing North, away from the Southfacing tripod leg.
-9- Southern Hemisphere Operation telescope rapidly through wide angles in Dec. The 16” LX200 is shipped with the North/South jumper set for North (i.e., with the jumper on one pin only). This jumper is located near the top left corner of the telescope’s printed circuit board (1, Fig. 4). For Southern Hemisphere operation, move the jumper to cover both pins.
- 10 - 2. Location of the Observing Site NOTE:The SITE information cannot be entered if the telescope is in LAND mode. 1 If the telescope is in LAND mode, the SITE menu option (display 2) will appear in lower case letters (see Which Alignment Method to Use, page 13). Follow steps 4 through 8 in Setting up the Telescope, page 11, to change the telescope’s operation to altazimuth (ALTAZ) mode before proceeding. 2 4 3 Once you ascertain the above information, you can enter it into the telescope.
- 11 g. Use the number keys to enter your longitude as above. When complete, the display will look like Display 7. Display 7 U.S.A.TIME-ZONE SHIFT LAT = +33° 35’ LONG = 117° 42’ TIME ZONE STANDARD TIME DAYLIGHT TIME HAWAII +10 hours +9 hours h. Press ENTER to complete the site information input. The display returns to Display 3. PACIFIC +8 hours +7 hours MOUNTAIN +7 hours +6 hours i. Press MODE to return to Display 2.
- 12 - c. Loosen the R.A. lock-knob (2, Fig. 5) and rotate the telescope so that the R.A. Vernier pointer (4, Fig. 5) and the Hour Angle (H.A.) pointer (5, Fig. 5) are approximately in line with each other. This orients the fork arms parallel to the power panel (10, Fig. 1). Lock the R.A. lock-knob (2, Fig. 5). Steps (1) and (2) are not required for the telescope to work; an approximation is sufficient.
- 13 The telescope will automatically begin to track objects. From this point, move the telescope only through the hand controller. Manual movements by loosening the Dec. or R.A. locks will cause the LX 200 to lose position, requiring realignment. SITE and TIME information as described in Entering Basic Information (page 10). You can use the third option when you do not know the SITE information or have not entered it into the LX200’s memory. 5.
Pointing Accuracy Determined By: 1-Star Known 2-Star Known 2-Star Unknown Level of Telescope 2-Star Alignment 2-Star Alignment 8 2 Atmospheric Refraction Correction* Yes Yes No Atmospheric Refraction Correction Determined By: Level of Telescope Level of Telescope Not Applicable When Best Used 7 1 9 3 4 Best used when the telescope is permanently mounted and accurately leveled Best used Best used on a when the transportable SITE telescope information with the is not SITE available informa
- 15 - Speed Keys (SLEW, FIND, CENTER, and GUIDE) MAP Key The SLEW, FIND, CENTER, and GUIDE keys (6, Fig. 7) let you set the rate of movement (slew) speed in the drives of the LX200, as activated by the N,S,E, and W keys. The speed-indicator illuminated LED beside the rate key that you press indicates the selected rate. The speeds are SLEW (4° per second), FIND (1° per second), CNTR (16X sidereal rate), and GUIDE (2X sidereal rate). The MAP key (11, Fig.
A connector for RS-232 communication even lets you perform every function of the keypad from your personal computer. ON/OFF Switch When you move the ON/OFF switch (7, Fig. 8) to the ON position, the power light indicator, current ammeter, and keypad light up. The drive motors start, which momentarily pegs the ammeter, then the drive motors shift to a slower speed, which allows the R.A.
MODE FUNCTIONS To view the separate modes within the LX200 system, press the MODE key ( it is located between the ENTER and GO TO keys at the top of the hand controller). You can customize the operation of your LX200 to perform virtually any of your observing requirements by entering and editing information in the various modes of the system. All the critical information, such as time, location, alignment type, and many other functions, are kept in memory—even with the LX200 turned off.
- 18 - This shows the alignment error that may have been made during your initial setup. Re-center the Pole Star during each interval using the pier adjustments only (see APPENDIX A) in altitude and azimuth, then follow the rest of the routine. Return to the POLAR menu option in the TELESCOPE mode and press the ENTER key. Ignore the keypad display instructions to return the telescope to 90° in Dec. and 00 H.A.
2. Using the HOME Alignment Routine: Using the HOME alignment routine requires only two steps (assuming the SEThas been performed). First, before turning off power to the telescope, park the telescope by selecting PARK from the HOME menu. This will position the telescope to a known position, which the telescope remembers even when the power is off. Turn off the power. When turning the power back on, perform the FIND from the HOME menu. The telescope looks for the HOME sensors in both axes.
- 20 - j. SLEW RATE: Option #10 in the TELESCOPE menu is for changing the slew rate of the telescope. Slowing down the slew rate results in less noise when the telescope moves; it uses less power. To change the slew rate, follow these steps: 1. Press the MODE key on the keypad until the TELESCOPE/OBJECT LIBRARY menu appears. The cursor should be next to the TELESCOPE option — if not, press the PREV key to move the cursor up one space. 2. Press ENTER to select the TELESCOPE functions. 3.
You can use the object library in the following ways: Directly access the library by using the M, STAR, or CNGC keys (see THE LX200 KEYPAD HANDCONTROLLER, page 14) and entering a specific catalog number. Use the START FIND option to find objects in organized strips of the sky that can be custom tailored to show only the objects that you wish to see with a selection of object types, size brightness.
d. PARAMETERS: Press ENTER at the PARAMETERS menu to find options that let you set such parameter limitations on the objects that you wish to locate as the following: Type Visual object quality range Horizon Zenith Size Brightness Field of view You can scroll through the PARAMETERS menu using the PREV or NEXT key. To edit, move the arrow to the desired option, and press and hold ENTER until you hear a double beep and see a blinking cursor (except in the BETTER option).
- 23 - magnitude. coordinate display. 8. FAINTER: You may also adjust the upper level of brightness with the FAINTER menu file option, (you may find few applications for limiting it to a lower value). 9. RADIUS: The RADIUS value sets the following boundaries regarding objects that the LX200 recognizes in a given eyepiece while in the FIELD menu: Which objects the LX200 recognizes How many objects the LX200 recognizes At power-up the RADIUS menu file option is set to 15 arc minutes.
- 24 - battery-replacement information). Mode Four:TIMER/FREQ 1. The TIMER Option The TIMER menu option is for accurately timing different observing or imaging tasks for up to 12 hours. The system counts down to zero, in the hours, minutes, and seconds format, and beeps to notify you that the time is up. Display 35 shows the menu file option that lets you step the drive tracking frequency setting in tenths of a hertz, by using the PREV and NEXT (up and down arrow) keys. This is a = 60.
- 25 - the image starts to become fuzzy as you work into higher magnifications, then back down to a lower power (as when the optometrist asks, “Is this lens better or worse?”). A bright, clearly resolved but smaller image shows more detail than a dimmer, poorly resolved larger image. The characteristics of the human eye (particularly eye-pupil diameter) and telescope optics impose minimum practical powers.
- 26 - APPENDIX A: EQUATORIAL USE Using the LX200 in POLAR Mode Celestial Coordinates Celestial objects are mapped according to a coordinate system on the Celestial Sphere. This is the imaginary sphere surrounding Earth on which all stars appear to be placed. This celestial object mapping system is analogous to the Earth-based coordinate system of latitude and longitude.
- 27 d. The telescope slews to Polaris’ position. Using the azimuth and latitude controls on the permanent pier, center Polaris in the field of view. Do not use the telescope’s Dec. or R.A. controls during this step. Press ENTER when Polaris is centered in the eyepiece. Polaris e. The telescope slews to a second alignment star. It prompts you to center this star in the eyepiece. Use the telescope controls to center this star. Press ENTER.
- 28 - APPENDIX B: LX200 ALIGNMENT STAR LIBRARY AND STAR CHARTS: Alignment Stars The LX200 utilizes the following 33 bright, well known stars to calibrate the telescope’s object library in the ALTAZ and POLAR alignments. These stars were selected to enable observers, from anywhere in the world and on any given night, to make precision alignments easily and quickly. LX200 ALIGNMENT STAR LIBRARY STAR NAME STAR # MAGNITUDE CONSTELL R/A DEC.
- 29 - Star Charts (for Northern Hemisphere Observers) SOUTHEAST SOUTH January 7:00 to 9:00 February 7:00 to 9:00 SOUTHWEST NORTH March 7:00 to 9:00 April 7:00 to 9:00 NORTH NORTH May 7:00 to 9:00 June 7:00 to 9:00
- 30 - NORTH NORTH July 7:00 to 9:00 August 7:00 to 9:00 NORTH NORTH September 7:00 to 9:00 October 7:00 to 9:00 NORTHWEST SOUTHEAST November 7:00 to 9:00 December 7:00 to 9:00
APPENDIX C: LX200 64,359-OBJECT LIBRARY The LX200 64,359-object library is a collection of the most studied and wonderful objects in the sky. The library includes: • 15,928 SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Catalog of Stars: all stars brighter than 7th magnitude. • 12,921 UGC (Uppsala General Catalog) Galaxies: complete catalog. • 7,840 NGC (New General Catalog) objects: complete catalog. • 5,386 IC (Index Catalog) objects: complete catalog.
The CNGC distinguishes the following object types .
The CNGC Catalog CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS GALAXY S- IV-V GALAXY SBm: PEC EMISSION GLOB CLUS sp=G3 OPEN CLUS GALAXY S(B)b+ UGC A4 c 5 ST b 5 ST B 2 ST c 1 ST c 5 ST 8.1x5.8 32.4x6.5 47 Tuc 16kly c 1 ST C 5 ST C 5 ST B 5 ST c 1 ST Oldest Open Cluster 5kly M110 Comp of M31 17.4x9.8 M32 Comp of M31 7.6x5.8 M31 Andromeda Gal 178x63 b 5 ST C 5 ST b 2 ST b 5 ST b 2 ST 20.0x7.4 25.1x7.4 c5S cD cD D 1 ST C 5 ST 12.0x11.
CNGC Catalog (continued) CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS 1746 1763 1807 1817 1820 05 03.6 04 56.8 05 10.7 05 12.1 05 03.8 +23 49 -66 24 +16 32 +16 42 -67 17 2520 1500 1020 960 410 6.1p 8.3 7.0v 7.7v 9.0 OPEN CLUS OPEN CLUS + ENEB IN LMC OPEN CLUS OPEN CLUS OPEN CLUS IN LMC c 1 ST BFS c 1 ST c 1 ST cC 1851 1857 1893 1904 1912 05 14.0 05 20.1 05 22.7 05 24.2 05 28.7 -40 02 +39 21 +33 24 -24 31 +35 51 660 360 660 522 1260 7.3v 7.0v 7.5v 8.0v 6.
CNGC Catalog (continued) CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS 2437 2447 2451 2467 2477 07 41.9 07 44.6 07 45.4 07 52.5 07 52.3 -14 49 -23 52 -37 58 -26 24 -38 33 1620 1320 2700 480 1620 6.1v 6.2v 2.8v 7.2p 5.
CNGC Catalog (continued) CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS 4349 4374 4382 4395 4406 12 24.2 12 25.1 12 25.5 12 25.8 12 26.3 -61 54 +12 53 +18 11 +33 32 +12 56 960 300 426 774 444 7.4v 9.3 9.2 10.2 9.2 OPEN CLUS GALAXY E1 GALAXY Ep 2-SYS GALAXY S+ IV-V GALAXY E3 UGC 7494 UGC 7508 UGC 7524 UGC 7532 c 1 ST C 5 ST C A ST c5S C 5 ST M84 5.0x4.4 Near M86 M85 7.1x5.2 12.9x11.0 M86 7.4x5.5 4438 4472 4486 4501 4517 12 27.8 12 29.8 12 30.9 12 32.1 12 32.
CNGC Catalog (continued) CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS 5927 5986 6025 6067 6087 15 28.0 15 46.1 16 03.7 16 13.3 16 18.9 -50 40 -37 46 -60 30 -54 13 -57 54 720 588 720 780 720 8.3v 7.1v 5.1v 5.6v 5.4v GLOB CLUS GLOB CLUS OPEN CLUS OPEN CLUS sp=B3 OPEN CLUS 6093 6101 6121 6124 6144 16 17.1 16 25.7 16 23.7 16 25.6 16 27.2 -23 00 -72 13 -26 31 -40 42 -26 03 534 642 1578 1740 558 7.2v 9.3v 5.9v 5.8v 9.
CNGC Catalog (continued) CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS CNGC 6523 B 6 ST b 6 ST D 1 ST b 2 ST c 4 ST M8 Lagoon Nebula 5100ly In M8 = Lagoon Nebula M21 13kly Blue-Green 300ly 6523 6530 6531 6541 6543 18 03.2 18 04.8 18 04.6 18 08.0 17 58.6 -24 23 -24 20 -22 30 -43 44 +66 38 5400 900 780 786 350 5.2 4.6v 5.9v 6.6v 8.8p OPEN CLUS + ENEB sp=O5 OPEN CLUS + ENEB OPEN CLUS GLOB CLUS sp=F6 PLAN NEB 6544 6546 6553 6568 6569 18 07.4 18 07.2 18 09.
- 39 - CNGC Catalog (continued) CNGC# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS CNGC 6981 CNGC 6994 D 2 ST D 1 ST b 3 ST C 4 ST c 1 ST M72 M73 North American Nebula 3kly Saturn Nebula 3000ly 6981 6994 7000 7009 7036 20 53.5 20 59.0 21 01.8 21 04.3 21 12.1 -12 33 -12 37 +44 12 -11 22 +47 43 354 168 7200 100 240 9.4v 8.9p 6.6 8.3p 6.8v GLOB CLUS OPEN CLUS DIFF ENEB HII PLAN NEB OPEN CLUS I 1 m 7039 7063 7078 7082 7086 21 12.2 21 24.4 21 30.0 21 29.4 21 30.
The Star Catalog STAR# RA DEC MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME 1 2 3 4 5 00 08.3 00 09.2 00 13.2 00 25.7 00 26.3 +29 06 +59 10 +15 12 -77 15 -42 18 2.1v 2.3v 2.8v 2.8v 2.4v STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR B8.5p IV:(Hg+Mn) F2 III-IV B2 IV G1 IV K0 IIIb Alpha And Beta Cas Gamma Peg Beta Hyi Alpha Phe 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST Ankaa * 6 * 7 * 8 * 9 * 10 00 39.4 00 40.5 00 43.6 00 56.7 01 06.1 +30 52 +56 33 -17 59 +60 43 -46 43 3.3v 2.2v 2.0v 2.5v 3.3v STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR K3 III K0 IIIa G9.
The Star Catalog (continued) STAR# RA DEC * 61 * 62 * 63 * 64 * 65 06 22.9 06 22.7 06 24.0 06 37.7 06 37.7 +22 31 -17 58 -52 42 +16 24 -43 12 * 66 * 67 * 68 * 69 * 70 06 44.0 06 45.2 06 48.2 06 49.9 06 58.6 +25 08 -16 43 -61 56 -50 37 -28 58 * 71 * 72 * 73 * 74 * 75 07 03.1 07 08.4 07 13.5 07 17.2 07 24.2 -23 50 -26 23 -44 38 -37 05 -26 19 * 76 * 77 * 78 * 79 * 80 07 27.2 07 29.3 07 34.6 07 34.6 07 39.3 +08 17 -43 17 +31 53 +31 53 +05 14 * 81 * 82 * 83 * 84 * 85 07 45.4 07 49.3 08 03.
The Star Catalog (continued) STAR# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS *121 *122 *123 *124 *125 12 26.6 12 26.7 12 29.9 12 31.2 12 34.4 -63 06 -63 07 -16 31 -57 07 -23 24 50 50 240 1.3v 1.7v 3.0v 1.6v 2.7v STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR B0.5 IV + B1 Vn B1 Vn + B0.5 IV B9.5 III + K2 V M3.5 III G5 II Alpha Cru A Alpha Cru B Delta Crv A Gamma Cru Beta Crv 9 ST 9 ST 9 ST 8 ST 8 ST Acrux A B=1.7 Acrux B A=1.3 Algorab B=8.3 Gacrux Kraz *126 *127 *128 *129 *130 12 37.2 12 41.6 12 41.
The Star Catalog (continued) STAR# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS *181 *182 *183 *184 *185 16 41.3 16 48.7 16 50.2 16 51.9 16 57.7 +31 36 -69 02 -34 17 -38 03 +09 22 11 *186 *187 *188 *189 *190 16 58.7 17 08.7 17 10.4 17 12.2 17 14.7 -56 00 +65 43 -15 44 -43 14 +14 23 2.8v 1.9v 2.3v 3.0v 3.2v STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR G1 IV + G7 V K2 IIb - IIIa K2 III B1.5 IVn K2 III Zeta Her AB Alpha TrA Epsilon Sco Mu^1 Sco Kappa Oph 9 ST 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST 3.1v 3.2v 2.4v 3.3v 3.
The Star Catalog (continued) STAR# RA DEC *241 *242 *243 *244 *245 22 05.8 22 08.3 22 18.6 22 42.7 22 43.1 *246 *247 *248 *249 *250 SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS -00 19 -46 58 -60 16 -46 52 +30 14 3.0v 1.7v 2.9v 2.1v 2.9v STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR G2 Ib B7 IV K3 III M5 III G8 II + F0 V Alpha Aqr Alpha Gru Alpha Tuc Beta Gru Eta Peg 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST 8 ST Sadalmelik Al Nair 22 53.6 22 57.7 23 03.8 23 04.8 23 39.4 -15 50 -29 38 +28 05 +15 12 +77 38 3.
The Star Catalog (continued) STAR# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS *301 *302 *303 *304 *305 12 26.6 12 35.1 12 41.7 12 53.3 13 23.9 -63 06 +18 22 -01 28 +21 15 +54 55 *306 *307 *308 *309 *310 13 49.1 14 15.3 14 20.4 14 40.0 14 41.2 *311 *312 *313 *314 *315 COMMON NAME/COMMENTS 47 202 30 8 144 1.6 5.2 3.5 5.1 2.3 STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR 1.6:2.1 5.2:6.8 3.5:3.5 5.1:7.2 2.3:4.
The M (Messier) Catalog M# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS M M M M M 1 2 3 4 5 05 34.5 21 33.5 13 42.3 16 23.7 15 18.6 +22 01 -00 50 +28 23 -26 31 +02 05 360 774 972 1578 1044 8.4 6.5v 6.4v 5.9v 5.8v PLAN NEB EMIS SN REM GLOB CLUS sp=F4 GLOB CLUS sp=F7 GLOB CLUS sp=G0 GLOB CLUS sp=F6 CNGC 1952 CNGC 7089 CNGC 5272 CNGC 6121 CNGC 5904 B 4 ST C 2 ST B 2 ST B 2 ST B 2 ST M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9 M 10 17 40.1 17 54.0 18 03.2 17 19.2 16 57.
The M (Messier) Catalog (continued) M# RA DEC SIZE MAG TYPE & DESCRIPTION ALT NAME Q TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS M 61 M 62 M 63 M 64 M 65 12 22.0 17 01.3 13 15.8 12 56.7 11 18.9 +04 28 -30 07 +42 02 +21 41 +13 05 360 846 738 558 600 9.7 6.6v 8.6 8.5 9.3 GALAXY Sc I 2-SYS GLOB CLUS OBLATE GALAXY Sb+ II GALAXY SbGALAXY Sb II: UGC 7420 CNGC 6266 UGC 8334 UGC 8062 UGC 6328 D A ST D 2 ST C 5 ST C 5 ST C 5 ST M61 M62 M63 M64 M65 6.0x5.5 Face-On Non-symmetrical 12.3x7.6 Sunflower Gal 9.3x5.
APPENDIX D: MAINTAINING YOUR LX200 Keeping Your Telescope Clean and Dr y Preventive maintenance is the best course for keeping astronomical equipment in top working order. The measures taken when observing, and storing equipment between observing runs can add years of trouble-free use. Dust and moisture are the two main problems. When observing, use a proper-fitting dew shield.
You can clean the interior of the optical system yourself or have it done professionally. If you do it yourself, handle the optics very carefully. Any impact or rough handling can damage the surfaces. This may require complete optical replacement at Meade Instruments at substantial cost. Meade Instruments assumes no liability for damage caused by the customer.
(1) (2) (3) Fig.16: De-focused Star Images. 5. If, while turning, you feel the screw get very loose, tighten the other two screws by equal amounts. If while turning, the setscrew gets too tight, unthread the other two by equal amounts. 6. When you bring the image to center (3, Fig. 16), carefully examine the concentricity of the ring of light. If you find that the dark center is still off in the same direction, continue to make the adjustment in the original turning direction.
- 51 - APPENDIX E: LX200 PERSONAL COMPUTER CONTROL Telescope Panel Connector Remote operation of a computerized telescope has been only a dream for most amateur astronomers. The realization of fully controlling a telescope through a personal computer has been expensive and has required expert knowledge of software and hardware. The LX200’s internal software supports the RS-232 interface, requiring only a serial communication program, such as Procomm.
To enter the test program, first load BASIC or GWBASIC (whichever your computer system uses), then type in the LX200 TEST program. When complete, save the program as LX200TST.BAS. To use this program, connect the completed cable to your PC serial port and to the LX200 RS-232 port. Load BASIC (or GWBASIC), if it is not already loaded, and run LX200TST.BAS. Nothing will appear on the computer screen.
Command :Gt# Returns sDD*MM# Gets the latitude of the currently selected site. Command :St sDD*MM# Returns Ok Sets the latitude of the currently selected site. Command :Gg# Returns DDD*MM# Gets the longitude of the currently selected site. 4. Home Position Command :hS# Returns Nothing Starts a home position search and saves the telescope position. NOTE:All commands except “:Q#”and “:h?#”are disabled during the search. Command :Sg DDD*MM# Returns Ok Sets the longitude of the currently selected site.
Command :Sh DD# Returns Ok Sets the current “higher” limit. Command :Go# Returns DD*# Gets the current “lower” limit. Command :So DD*# Returns Ok Sets the current “lower” limit. Command :Gb# :Gf# Returns sMM.M# Gets the brighter (Gb) or fainter (Gf) magnitude limit for the FIND operation. Command :Sb sMM.M# :Sf sMM.M# Returns Ok Sets the brighter (Sb) or fainter (Sf) magnitude limit for the FIND operation. Command :Ls N# Returns Ok Sets the STAR object library type .
- 55 - LX200 Demo Program objects, on the display of a personal computer . The RS-232 interface communicates with your computer at 9600 baud rate, parity = None, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit. For those who are familiar with programming, the LX200 command set is written in ASCII-character format; you can use it to write your own programs. The LX200 Demo Program on the following pages is written in Quick Basic.
- 56 telpos: LOCATE 6, 7: PRINT "TELESCOPE POSITION"; c$ = "#:GR#": PRINT #1, c$; : d$ = INPUT$(8, 1): RAL$ = LEFT$(d$, 3): RAM$ = MID$(d$, 4, 4): LOCATE 7, 10: PRINTUSING "RA: \\:\ \"; RAL$; RAM$; c$ = "#:GD#": PRINT #1, c$; : d$ = INPUT$(7, 1): RAL$ = LEFT$(d$, 3): RAM$ = MID$(d$, 5, 2): LOCATE 8, 10: PRINT "DEC: "; RAL$; CHR$(248); RAM$; "'"; c$ = "#:GA#": PRINT#1, c$; : d$ = INPUT$(7, 1): RAL$ = LEFT$(d$, 3): RAM$ = MID$(d$, 5, 2): LOCATE 9, 10: PRINT "ALT: "; RAL$; CHR$(248); RAM$; "'"; c$ = "#:GZ#": P
- 57 - status: LOCATE 1, 7: PRINT "SITE" c$ = "#:Gt#": PRINT#1, c$; : d$ = INPUT$(7, 1): RAL$ = LEFT$(d$, 3): RAM$ = MID$(d$, 5, 2): LOCATE 2, 3: PRINT "Lat. : "; RAL$; CHR$ (248); RAM$; "'"; c$ = "#:Gg#": PRINT#1, c$; : d$ = INPUT$(7, 1): RAL$ = LEFT$(d$, 3): RAM$ = MID$(d$, 5, 2): LOCATE 3, 3: PRINT "Long.
- 58 drawbox: REM REM REM REM RETURN LOCATE BOXSTX, BOXSTY: BOX$ = CHR$(201) FOR I = 1 TO BOXWIDE: BOX$ = BOX$ + CHR$(205): NEXT PRINT BOX$; help: LOCATE 14, 10: PRINT "E W N S keys move telescope. SPACE BAR stops."; LOCATE 15, 10: PRINT "M key to enter Messier object."; LOCATE 16, 10: PRINT"T key to enter sTar."; LOCATE 17, 10: PRINT "P key to enter Planet (900 + orbit #)."; LOCATE 18, 10: PRINT "C key to enter Cngc object."; LOCATE 19, 10: PRINT "X to End program.
- 59 - APPENDIX F: LX200 SPECIFICATIONS Telescope 16”LX200 f/10 Optical Design Schmidt-Cassegrain Catadioptric Clear Aperture 406mm (16") Primary Mirror Diameter 415.9mm (16.375") Focal Length 4064mm (160") Focal Ratio f/10 Resolution 28 arc sec Super Multi-Coatings Standard Limiting Visual Magnitude (approx) 15.5 Limiting Photographic Magnitude (approx) 18.0 Image Scale (°/inch) 0.36°/inch Maximum Practical Visual Power 800X Near Focus 100' Optical Tube Size 17.5" Dia.
MEADE LIMITED WARRANTY Every Meade telescope, spotting scope, and telescope accessory is warranted by Meade Instruments Corporation (“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 replace a product, or part thereof, found by Meade to be defective, provided the defective part is returned to Meade, freight-prepaid, with proof of purchase.
