1#
Computer Control Panel (see Fig. 1 inset):
A. ON/OFF Switch: Turns the computer control panel and AutoStar II ON
or OFF. The red power indicator LED next to the switch illuminates when
power is supplied to the AutoStar II handbox, the microfocuser, and to
the telescope’s motor drives (the LED can be turned off in the Panel
Light menu; see page 28).
B. 12vDC Power Connector: Provides a connection so that the telescope
assembly may be powered from a standard 115v AC home outlet using
the optional #547 Power Adapter with Cable or the optional 12v DC #607
Cigarette Lighter Adapter. See
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44.
C. Focus Port: Plug the optional microfocuser into this port. Control the
microfocuser through the AutoStar II menus. See
HOT BUTTON MENUS,
page 32.
D. Reticle Port: Plug the optional reticle eyepiece into this port. Control the
reticle through the AutoStar II menus. See
HOT BUTTON MENUS page
32. Also see
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 44.
Note: See the instruction sheets that are included with the focuser, the
reticle, and the autoguider for more details.
E. 12vDC Output: Use the 12vDC output to power telescope accessories.
F. Handbox (HBX) Port: Plug the AutoStar II coil cord into this port.
G. RS232 Ports (2): Provides connection with a PC and for current and
future Meade accessories. Your PC can control your
LX200-ACF
telescope using serial commands. Go to the Meade website
(www.meade.com) to download the latest serial commands and
device pinouts.
H. Autoguider Port: Plug the optional autoguider into this port. See the
instruction sheet that came with your autoguider for more information.
1$
Tiltable AutoStar II Holder: Attach to fork handles (see 1% below). Holds your
handbox in a convenient location.
1%
Fork Handles: Use to lift optical tube assembly or to rotate the telescope when
attached to the tripod.
1^
Declination (Dec.) Slow-Motion Control: Make fine adjustments in Declination
(altitude) by turning this control with the Dec. Lock (see
1& below) in the locked
position. In order for this control to operate properly, power must be off.
1&
Dec. Lock: Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope. Turning the
Dec. lock counterclockwise unlocks the telescope enabling it to be freely rotated
by hand about the vertical axis. Turning the Dec. lock clockwise (to a firm feel only)
prevents the telescope from being moved manually, but engages the vertical
motor drive for AutoStar II operation.
1*
Dust Cover: Gently pry the dust cover from the front lens of the telescope.
Note: The dust cover should be replaced after each observing session and
the power turned off to the telescope. Verify that any dew that might have
collected during the observing session has evaporated prior to replacing
the dust cover.
1(
Optical Tube: The main optical component that gathers the light from distant
objects and brings this light to a focus for examination through the eyepiece.
2)
Declination (Dec.) Setting Circle (on left fork arm): See APPENDIX A, page 53,
for detailed information.
2!
Viewfinder Collimation Screws: Use these six screws to adjust the alignment of
the viewfinder.
2@
8 x 50mm Viewfinder: A low-power, wide-field sighting scope with crosshairs that
enables easy centering of objects in the telescope eyepiece.
2#
GPS Receiver (see page 22 for photo): Receives information transmitted from
Global Positioning System satellites. See pages 19, 20, and 22 for more information.
2$
Tube Adapters: The optical and mechanical axes of the LX200-ACF telescope
have been carefully aligned at the factory to ensure accurate object pointing. Do
not loosen or remove the optical tube assembly from the tube adapters. The
resulting misalignment of the axes will result in inaccurate slewing of the
telescope in the GO TO mode.
2!
Want to learn more about
mounting and adjusting
the viewfinder? See
page 16.
Definitions
Throughout this manual,
you will notice the terms
“
Alt/Az
”
,
“
Right
Ascension”, and
“
Declination
”.
Alt/Az or
more properly, altazimuth,
is frequently used to refer
to altitude or Declination
(the up-and-down vertical
movement of the telescope)
and azimuth or Right
Ascension (the side-to-side
horizontal movement of the
telescope). Right Ascension
is abbreviated as
“
R.A.
”
and Declination as
“
Dec.
”.
Caution:
When loosening the Dec.
lock, be sure to support the
optical tube (Fig. 1, 19).
The weight of the tube
could cause the tube to
swing through the fork arms
suddenly.
Important Note:
After the telescope is
aligned (see page 18), the
Dec. slow motion control
1^
may be used and the
telescope will remain in
alignment. However, if the
R.A. slow motion control
1)
is used after the telescope
has been aligned,
alignment will be lost and
the telescope will need to
be realigned.
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