A User's Guide to the Meade LXD55 and LXD75 Telescopes (eBook)

Martin Peston obtained a first-class degree in Astrophysics at QM & Westfield, University of London. He currently works as a Systems Analyst and has been involved in various UK space and defence projects.

Acknowledgements 6
Abbreviations 9
Table of Contents 
10 
CHAPTER ONE Introduction 
16 
The Goto Revolution 17
To Goto or not to Goto? 17
About This Book 18
CHAPTER TWO Astronomy as a Hobby 
20 
Introduction 20
The Sky Above Us 21
The Earth in Motion 22
The Celestial Sphere 23
Sky Coordinates 24
Absolute Beginners 26
Back to Basics 26
Naked Eye Observing 27
Finding Your Way Around the Sky 27
Preparation 27
Sky Maps 
28 
Recognizing the Constellations 28
The Milky Way 31
The Brightness of Stars 31
The Colour of Stars 32
Seeing Conditions 33
Recording Your Observations 34
Getting More Information 35
Conclusion 37
CHAPTER THREE Choosing an LXD Telescope 
38 
Tools of the Trade - Introduction to Telescopes 
39 
The Refractor 39
The Newtonian Reflector 41
Schmidt-type Telescopes 42
Schmidt-Newtonian 42
Schmidt-Cassegrain 43
Telescope Tube Essentials 44
Focusers 45
Finderscopes 46
Telescope Mounts 46
Mount Types 47
Altazimuth Mounts 47
Equatorial Mounts 48
Telescope Stands and Tripods 49
Tripod Stands 50
Pillar and Pier Stands 52
Personal Factors to Consider when Choosing a Telescope 53
Purpose 53
Solar System Observing 53
Observing Stars 54
Deep SIcy Observing 54
Image Capturing 54
Specialized Observations 54
Quality and Cost 55
Portability 55
The LXD Telescope Series 
55 
AR-5 and AR-6 Refractors 56
N-6 Newtonian Reflector 56
SN-6, SN-8, SN-10 Schmidt-Newtonian Telescopes 
59 
SC-8 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope 59
Features of the LXD Series 62
Optical Tube Assembly Features 62
Mount Features 63
Mechanical Features 63
Electronic Features 64
Autostar 65
The LXD Tripod 66
Conclusion 67
CHAPTER FOUR Setting up the Telescope 
69 
Setup Tasks 70
Assembling the Telescope (ECT: 2 to 3 Hours) 
70 
Handling the Telescope 71
Balancing the Telescope 74
Balancing the AR Refractor, SN Schmidt-Newtonian and N-6 Newtonian Telescopes (ECT: J5 to 25 Minutes) 
74 
Balancing the SC-8 Schmiclt-eassegrain Telescope (ECT: 10 to 15 Minutes) 
76 
Polar Viewfinder Alignment 77
Polar Viewfinder Shaft Alignment Test (ECT: 10 Minutes) 
78 
Aligning the Polar Viewfinder With the RA Shaft 
79 
(ECT: 30 to 45 Minutes) 
79 
The Polar Home Position (ECT: 5 minutes) 
81 
Aligning the OTA With the RA and Dec axes 82
Dec Axis Calibration (ECT: 15 to 20 Minutes) 
83 
RA Axis Alignment 84
The LXD Motor Drives 86
Calibrating the Motors (ECT: 5 Minutes) 87
Backlash 87
Autostar Backlash Compensation Utility (ECT: 15 to 25 Minutes) 
88 
Physical Motor Alignment (ECT: 45 to 60 Minutes) 
88 
RA and Dec Motor Unit Alignment 88
Training the Motors (ECT: 10 Minutes) 
91 
PEC 'Smart-Drive' Training (ECT: 30 Minutes) 
93 
Tripod Setup (ECT: 5 to 10 Minutes) 
94 
Tripod Ground Placement 94
Levelling the Tripod 
95 
Finderscope Alignment (ECT: 15 to 30 Minutes) 
96 
Focuser Adiustments (ECT: 10 to 15 Minutes) 
98 
Conclusion 99
CHAPTER FIVE Polar Alignment and Goto Setup 
100 
Using Polaris to Find the North CelestiaI Pole 
100 
Determining Latitude 
102 
Aligning the RA Shaft with the North Celestial Pole 
102 
Tripod Setup 103
LXD55 - All Models 103
LXD75 - All Models 103
Latitude Adiustments 104
Locating Polaris in the Polar Viewfinder 104
Traditional Methods for Polar Aligning 107
Two Star Method 107
Drift Method (ECT: 1 Hour) 
110 
Setting up the Goto Facility 111
Easy Align (ECT: 5 Minutes) 
112 
One Star Alignment (ECT: 5 to 7 Minutes) 
112 
Two Star Alignment (ECT: 5 to 6 Minutes) 113
Which Stars to Choose 113
Three Star Alignment (ECT: 6 to 7 Minutes) 
113 
Alignment Setup - Success or Failure? 114
Southern Hemisphere Alignment 
115 
Non-Goto Operation of the Telescope 
115 
Conclusion 116
CHAPTER SIX First Night's Observing 
117 
An Experience to Forget ... 
117 
Location! Location! Where to Observe 
118 
Equipment! What to Take Out 119
Telescope Setup 120
Slewing the Telescope 
121 
End of the Night - Packing Up 123
Packing Up in Public Locations 123
Parking the Telescope 123
Sleep Scope 124
Summary 125
CHAPTER SEVEN Telescope Operations, Abilities and Observing Techniques 
126 
Summary 
126 
Observing Celestial Objects Across the Meridian 
127 
How Faint Can You See - Limiting Magnitude 
128 
How Much Detail Can You See - Resolving Power 
129 
How Far Can You Zoom - Magnification Power 
129 
How Much Light from an Object Can You See - The Exit Pupil 
130 
Observing Techniques 
130 
Dark Adaptation 
130 
Averted Vision 131
Telescope Operations 
131 
Tracking Obiects 132
Sidereal Rate 132
Lunar Rate 132
Custom Rate 132
Using the Telescope Without Goto to Find Obiects 
134 
Using Goto to Find Obiects 135
Spiral Searching 136
High Precision 136
Digital Setting Circles 137
Object Synchronization - The Sync Function 138
CHAPTER EIGHT The Universe at a Touch of a Button 
139 
Introduction 139
Guided Tour 139
The Autostar Object Database 
140 
The Solar System 140
Observing the Sun Safely - Some Very Important Advice 
140 
The Sun - Solar Observing 141
The Moon - Lunar Observing 145
Mercury 146
Venus 147
Earth 148
Mars 149
Jupiter 150
Saturn 151
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto 152
Asteroids 153
Comets 154
Events - Meteor Showers 154
Constellations 155
Stars 155
Named Stars 155
Double Stars 155
Variable Stars 156
Other Star Catalogs 156
Deep Sky 157
Object Catalogs 157
Named Objects 158
Galaxies 159
Nebulas 161
Star Clusters 162
Exotic Objects 162
Using Autostar to Identify Objects 
163 
Browsing the Autostar Object Database 
163 
User Object 
165 
Suggest 165
Summary 165
CHAPTER NINE Connecting to a Personal Computer 
166 
Introduction 166
Connecting the Autostar to a PC 166
The Autostar Serial Port 167
Computer Setup 168
Upgrading the Firmware 169
Downloading Firmware Files from the Internet 171
Other Features of the ASU 171
Autostar Cloning 171
Connecting Autostar to Other Devices 
172 
CHAPTER TEN Taking Images 
173 
Traditional Astrophotography 173
Choosing the Right Equipment 173
Reducing Camera Shake 174
Choosing the Right Camera Film 174
Film Sensitivity 174
Film Format 175
Processing the Film 175
Astrophotography with an LXD Telescope 175
Piggyback Astrophotography 176
Prime Focus 177
Eyepiece Projection 178
Afocal Projection 178
Guiding Tips for Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection 
179 
Taking Pictures - Exposure Settings 180
Digital Imaging 
180 
Webcam Imaging 181
CCD Imaging 182
Digital Cameras 183
Video Cameras 184
Focusing Tips 185
Image Processing 185
Conclusion 185
CHAPTER ELEVEN Keeping Your Telescope in Peak Condition 
187 
Collimating Your LXD Telescope for Pin-Sharp Images 
187 
Testing the Collimation of a Telescope 188
Star Testing (ECT: 15 Minutes) 
188 
Collimation Tools 190
Collimating the AR Refractor (ECT: 1 to 2 Hours) 
190 
Collimating the SNT (ECT: 1 to 2 Hours) 191
Collimating the SCT (ECT: 1 to 2 Hours) 193
Collimating the N-6 Reflector 195
Collimation Summary 195
Cleaning the Telescope 197
Cleaning the Optics 197
Cleaning Objective Lens and Corrector Plates 197
Cleaning Mirrors 198
Eyepiece Cleaning 198
General Maintenance 199
The Ultimate Telescope Tune-up! 200
Storing the Telescope 200
Indoor Storage 201
Storing the Telescope Outdoors 201
Summary 202
CHAPTER TWELVE Gadgets and Gizmos 
203 
Introduction 203
Eyepieces 203
Erecting (Terrestrial) Eyepieces and Prisms 205
Barlow Lens 205
Focal Reducer 206
Star Diagonals 206
Finderscopes 207
Filters 207
Color Filters 208
Light Pollution Filters 209
Color Correction Filters 209
Polarization Filters 209
Nebula Filters 210
Filter Wheels 210
Binocular Viewers 211
Tripods 211
Motorized Focusers 211
GPS Add-Ons 211
Bluetooth Connectivity 212
Power Supplies 212
Dew Shields and Heaters 213
Meade #909 Accessory Port Module (APM) 213
Piggyback Camera Mounts 214
LXD Carry Handle 214
Autostar Placeholder 215
Telescope Covers and Cases 215
Summary 
216 
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Where Did It All Go Wrong? 
217 
Alignment Stars are not in the FOV During Goto Setup Procedure - Alignment Failure is Displayed on the Autostar (Chapter 5) 
218 
Probable Cause and Solution 218
Objects not Found in the FOV after a Goto is Performed (Chapter 5) 
218 
Probable Cause and Solution 218
The RA or Dec Axes Do not Turn When Autostar Arrows Keys are Pressed (Chapter 4) 
219 
Probable Cause and Solution 219
Autostar Displays 'Motor Unit Failure' (Chapter 4) 
219 
Probable Cause and Solution 219
Poor Tracking and Backlash Problems (Chapters 4 and 11) 
219 
Probable Cause and Solution 219
Text on the Autostar Screen Appears Blurry and Slow to Display 
220 
Probable Cause and Solution 220
Autostar Unexpectedly Reboots 220
Probable Cause and Solution 220
The Arrow Markers Located on the Side of Each Axis are not Aligned in Polar Home Position (Chapter 4) 
221 
Probable Cause and Solution 221
Summary 222
APPENDIX A Lists and Charts of Autostar Named Stars 
223 
APPENDIX B Object Lists 
236 
B1. Autostar Constellation List 236
B2. Autostar Messier Objects List 
238 
B3. Autostar Caldwell Objects List 
241 
B4. Annual Meteor Showers 
244 
APPENDIX C Autostar Menu Options 
245 
APPENDIX D References and Further Reading 
247 
D.1 List of Useful Websites 
247 
LXD Telescope Websites 247
Other Websites and Resources 249
APPENDIX E Astronomical Image Information 
252 
E.1 David Kolb Images 
252 
E.2 George Tarsoudis Images 253
E.3 Dieter Wolf Images 254
E.4 Author's Images 
255 
Index 256
Other Titles in this Series 260

"CHAPTER TWELVE Gadgets and Gizmos (p. 195-196)

Introduction

No telescope is complete without accessories. There are many available for the LXD series of telescopes and in fact, not just produced by the original manufacturer (i.e. Meade). Many companies have taken it upon themselves to manufacture accessories that enhance the LXD telescope hardware. This chapter provides a general guide to accessories available for your LXDtelescope. The list is by no means exhaustive, and if you want to know more information about buying accessories for telescopes Star Ware by Phil Harrington is a book well worth reading.

Eyepieces

Purchasing an eyepiece is just as important as buying a telescope. The best quality eyepieces tend to be very expensive, some costing more than a quarter of the initial outlay of the telescope. The quality of an image does not solely depend upon the quality of the telescope optics , but also on the quality and type of eyepiece used. Eyepieces come in various types and sizes, ranging from simple designs with a few internal elements to those with a complex array ofelements. The magnification and exit pupil properties depend upon focal length and design type . These are discussed in Chapter 7.

One of the most popular types of eyepieces used by astronomers is the Plossl, It consists of four elements, and is a good all round general purpose eyepiece. The 26 mm eyepiece supplied with every LXD telescope is of Plossl design. A short time ago Meade produced a set of Plossl eyepieces to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. The anniversary kit contains the complete set of Meade Series 4000 Plossl eyepieces ranging from the low power wide field 40 mm eyepiece to the high power 6.4 mm eyepiece (Figure 12.1). The 4000 series has been recently superseded by the superior 5000 series.

Other common types of eyepieces include Kellner, Orthoscopic, Nagler and Zoom. The Kellner eyepiece consists of three elemen ts, has good eye relief and is best used at low to moderate magnifications. They have typical focal lengths of between 40 to 20mm. The Orthoscopic eyepiece consists of four elements and provides excellent sharpness and colour contrast, so are ideal for luna r and planetary work but has a smaller field of view compared to other designs. A disadvantage of orthoscopic eyepieces is that focal lengths 8 mm or smaller, provide pinhole eye relief which hinders viewing of the image.

The Or thoscopic eyepiece design has been superseded with superior, more complex designs which offer wide-field and excellent eye relief for relatively short focal lengths. An example is the Televue Radian eyepiece (Figure 12.2). Zoom eyepieces combine several focal lengths into a single eyepiece design. This is like using several eyepieces at once, altho ugh images tend to be slightly dimmer than fixed focal length eyepieces, due to the large amount of optical elements attenuating the light from the image."