12 Inch LX200 Instructions
Using the 12 Inch Meade LX200
- Remove the white dust cover and lens caps from the telescope
- If using the scope for visual observing remove the counter weights on the
bottom of the optical tube assembly (OTA). This is done by turning the
large black thumbscrew clockwise if facing the rear of the scope (eyepiece
side of the OTA). The weights and threaded rod should slide out of the
track.
- Screw on the visual back. Hand tighten until it is snug.
Insert the diagonal into the rear of the visual back and tighten using the
screw. Then insert an eyepiece and tighten the screws on the diagonal.
- Power up the telescope by moving the slide switch on the upper right
corner of the fork arm base to the ON position.
- Loosen the right ascension (RA) lock (7, figure 1 of the owners manual)
and rotate the scope so the RA pointer (9, figure 1) and the hour angle (HA)
pointer (16, figure 1) are roughly lined up. The fork arms should now
be in an east/west alignment. Lock the RA lock.
- Release the declination lock on the west fork arm. If facing the
eyepiece side of the scope this will be the right fork arm. Move the
scope in declination (Dec) until the Dec scale on the east fork arm reads 0
degrees. Lock the Dec axis.
- On the keypad press the STAR key (# 6) then press enter twice. A
list of star names appears in the keypad display. Use the NEXT key to
scroll to the desired alignment star and press enter. Information
about the star will appear in the display. Press GOTO to slew the
scope to the alignment star.
- Once the scope stops slewing look through the finder scope. Use the
N, S, E, & W keys to center the alignment star in the finder.
- Press the CNTR key (# 1 on the pad) to switch the scope speed to centering
speed. This will cause the scope to move much more slowly when the N,
S, E, & W keys are pressed.
- Looking through the eyepiece use the N, S, E, & W keys to center the
star. Once centered press and hold the enter key. The scope will
beep and the keypad display will read Coordinates Matched. The scope
is now aligned and objects can be found by entering their catalog number on
the keypad.
- To point the telescope at a Messier (M) object press M (# 9 on the
keypad). Using the number keys enter the catalog number of the object and
press enter. EXAMPLE: M 31 ENTER. Pressing GOTO at this point
will slew the scope to the desired object.
- When finished for the evening switch the power off using the power switch
on the fork arm base.
- Loosen the right ascension (RA) lock (7, figure 1 of the owners manual)
and rotate the scope so the RA pointer (9, figure 1) and the hour angle (HA)
pointer (16, figure 1) are roughly lined up. The fork arms should now
be in an east/west alignment. Lock the RA lock.
- Release the Dec lock and move the OTA so that it is nearly parallel with
the floor. Relock the Dec lock.
- Remove the eyepiece, diagonal, and visual back from the scope.
- Put the lens caps back in place and cover with the white cloth
cover.
Visitors of This Page Since 12/23/04
